SPS starting teacher pay increases to $43,200, a 'leader' in southwest Missouri
Starting pay for teachers in Springfield Public Schools will increase to $43,200 for the 2023-24 year, which is $1,656 more than this year.
The higher base salary and a cost-of-living increase of at least 3% — targeted groups were slightly more — emerged from the collective bargaining process this spring,
"One of our goals is to be the leader in the area," said John Mulford, deputy superintendent of operations. "And this definitely will put us as the leader in the Springfield and surrounding area."
The Springfield National Education Association was elected to represent all but one of existing or newly organized employee groups. They include educators, nurses, administrative assistants, school police, nutrition services, facility services, information technology and specialized instructional school personnel.
Transportation employees are represented by Teamsters Local No. 245.
Mulford, who will start a new job as superintendent in Fayetteville Arkansas on July 1, said there was a lot of work that went into the agreements by the district and representatives of the Springfield NEA.
In addition to the pay increases, each bargaining group either achieved an initial contract or revised contract that reflected the priorities of employees in specific groups and involved paid time off, pay for extra work or required training, and workplace conditions.
"Each group has different needs and the flexibility of the district to listen to the needs of each group is key," said Laura Mullins, president of the Springfield NEA.
This year and last, the collective bargaining process involved restructuring the salary schedule for specific groups in an effort to increase starting pay in a competitive hiring market.
Mulford said that work continued this year. For example, starting pay for nutrition services moved to $15 an hour, an increase of 7%.
He said the district has struggled for years to hire and keep enough paraprofessionals. He said starting pay jumped by roughly 5%, which is $15.75 or $17.60 based on type of position.
"We felt that was a really positive step in the right direction," he said.
In addition to cost of living increases, the collective bargaining agreements also included "step" raises, which are built in pay increases based on gaining experience or educational degrees.
Employee salaries and benefits make up the largest part of the district's $363 million operating budget, which was approved Tuesday.
Mulford said the pay increases, and related costs, has a price tag of $12.1 million.
Under state law, Missouri districts must pay teachers a minimum starting salary of $25,000, which is ranked at the bottom in the U.S.
In recent years, the state has allocated matching grant funds for low-paying districts get voluntarily increase their base pay to $38,000.
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The 2022-23 salary report by Missouri NEA showed that among public school districts, beginning teacher pay started as low as $26,000 or as high as $46,269.
Springfield is the largest district in the state, based on enrollment and is ranked No. 35 for highest starting pay.
Among districts with 10,000 students or more, it lagged behind Francis Howell, Hazelwood, Kansas City, North Kansas City, Park Hill, Parkway, Rockwood, and St. Louis City.
In southwest Missouri, Springfield paid more than all districts except Belton, Joplin, Shell Knob and Webb City.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: SPS starting teacher pay now $43,200, a 'leader' in southwest Missouri
