Sept. 1, 2023 noon
(WGTD)---Kenosha teachers won’t be getting a full cost-of-living wage increase this year.
The school board voted unanimously Thursday night to cap the COLA increase at 4%, half of what other urban districts in the state have granted their employees. At a previous meeting, the Kenosha board authorized 'step and lane' salary increases tied to seniority and academic degree attainment.
The Kenosha Education Association, the bargaining agent for employees, had countered with a 6% COLA proposal, but even that was rejected, according to KEA Vice-President Jessica Burch.
Burch and others who spoke at an event held before the board meeting said they feared that KUSD will have a hard time recruiting and retaining teachers. With the new school year just days away, KUSD reportedly has 60 teaching vacancies compared to a dozen in Racine Unified.
A couple of speakers suggested that the school board consider putting a referendum on the ballot to ask voters to authorize a property tax increase beyond what's allowed by state law. Such an increase could potentially lessen the need to close schools, a process that''s currently underway. But the board discussion Thursday night steered clear of any referendum talk. The board is expected to receive a recommendation on which schools to close before the end of the year.
Even with the less-than-COLA salary package, the district will have to look for additional savings in order to balance its budget, like delaying hiring, according to School Board President Yolanda Santos-Adams. "We're doing the best we can," she said.
Despite a huge state budget surplus, the Republican-controlled legislature this spring allocated far fewer dollars to public school districts than what school boards had hoped for or expected.
Dipping into the district's reserves is not a viable option, according to the district's chief financial officer, Tarik Hamdan. The district earns interest on those reserves, and conversely uses the money to fill periodic gaps in state funding, enabling the district to avoid at least some interest costs, he said.
Those explanations don't sit well with teachers. "It is the responsibility of the KUSD school board to show--not just in words--but also in action that the experience, education and dedication of staff is indeed highly-valued and appreciated," Burch said. "I can say with certainty that educators have lost their faith and belief in the school board's empty sentiments as there have been no significant improvements in preparation and planning time, class sizes or professional support," she said.
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