This morning (Wed., September 30, 2015) in a special meeting Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees unanimously voted to approve the Teachers Agreement for the 2015-2016 school year raising the eligible teachers’ salaries by at least $2,000.

In the new one-year agreement ratified Friday, Sept. 25 by the Teachers Association, the starting salary for teachers will go from $35,000 to $37,000. For teachers receiving a rating of “Effective” or “Highly Effective” for the 2014-2015 school year, who made $61,479 or more during the 2014-2015 school year, will receive a $2,000 increase to their base salary. Teachers in their second contract year or above and make less than $61,479 will receive a $2,500 increase.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation has been consistently rated an “A-rated” school district by the Indiana Department of Education with 100% of P-H-M teachers rated “Effective” or “Highly Effective.”

Along with raising teachers’ salaries, the School Corporation was also able to maintain health insurance premiums; therefore, employees will not see an increase in employee insurance contributions.

“This is a way to recognize and thank our teachers for the contributions they make to providing excellence in the classroom for our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker. “P-H-M wants to not only attract the best school teachers, but retain them. These benefits help make that possible.”