The Kenosha School Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to adopt a permanent salary structure for teachers.
The plan doles out raises based primarily on seniority and academic attainment---a step and lane-styled approach that had been in place in the district before Act 10.
"I find it very exciting that everyone is going to get a raise that they can count on," said board member Mary Snyder, a retired teacher. She also praised the new plan's extended number of steps that's designed to make it harder for veteran teachers to top out.
The salary plan, adopted by the board without change, was the product of a committee that met for many months. "You guys did a tremendous job," said board member Gary Kunich. "I'm thrilled to see this."
Kunich and several other board members voiced concern that future school boards might be forced to deviate from the plan in lean years. But district Chief Financial Officer Tarik Hamdan said he believes Kenosha Unified will be able sustain funding for the plan, although it may not always be easy.
Tuesday night's vote clears the way for a committee to begin work on the plan’s final phase: Creating incentives for hard-to-fill teaching positions, and identifying desirable professional growth objectives and tying them to a reward system.
Also, the board has yet to tackle a salary structure plan for the district’s non-teaching staff.
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