A recent National Education Association study shows that a 10% increase in teacher pay is estimated to produce a 5 to 10% increase in student performance.
A Stanford University study of San Francisco city schools found that when the salary for teaching was increased, the size and quality of teacher applicants increased, and the district retained more of its teachers. Comparable results have been found in urban school districts across America.
Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS) and teachers and staff represented by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 420 hope to reap those benefits, as well.
A contract that provides teachers with a 17% pay increase over the next three years has been ratified by the union and approved by the school board. The new starting salary for teachers beginning with the next school year will be near $50,000, district spokesman George Sells said.
According to SLPS, it is the largest pay increase in a single contract in almost two decades. The Board of Education of the City of St. Louis approved the deal on Tuesday evening.
Superintendent Dr. Keisha Scarlett and the SLPS Human Resource and Finance teams “embraced Local 420 leadership in an effort to make salaries for teachers and staff more competitive,” according to a release
“I would like to express my gratitude to Ray Cummings, the president of Local 420, for his genuine collaboration with our new SLPS team. His alignment with our vision for the district’s future has been invaluable,” said Dr. Scarlett, who is in her first year as superintendent.
“My thanks also go to our Board of Education for their support as we implement these necessary improvements within SLPS. Our focus is on ensuring competitive salaries and fostering an environment where everyone can succeed.
[The] achievements mark a significant milestone for our teachers, and consequently, a wonderful advancement for every child in St. Louis.”
Members of the American Federation of Teachers, St. Louis, Local 420-AFLCIO “overwhelmingly approved” the wage reopener and adjusted Collective Bargaining Agreement, according to Cummings.
“Unions are a Democracy and our members stood up, voted and approved the district’s offer by 78%,” he said.
“All categories of employees represented by our union will receive well deserved increases over the next three years. This agreement demonstrates a real, good faith, effort to recruit and retain our dedicated workforce.
“We are better together in the often very challenging but rewarding work of putting children and families of the City of St. Louis at the center of our endeavors.”
The agreement includes:
• A pay increase for teachers that will start with a 7% jump in fiscal year 2025 and increase an additional 5% each of the following two years.
• Special education teachers will receive a 10% pay increase for fiscal year 2025 and a total of 22% over the three-year term of the deal.
• All other employees represented by Local 420 will see raises over the term of the contract, with everyone receiving at least a 10% increase over the three-year period.
• For the first time ever, this includes “trade” workers represented by the union.
