 by Dick Kauffman September 25, 2002
The Superintendent said looking at negotiations statewide shows some salary increases higher than Ketchikan's. Martin said the District can live with the new contract; however, he said it will force the School Board to set their priorities and make some tough decisions over the next three years including looking at larger class sizes, cutting positions and moving teachers. The new contract agreement which was approved by the School Board last Friday night by a vote of 4-3, will increase the salary of teachers 4.5% over the next three years. Superintendent Martin said the teachers' salary increase for the first year will be 0%, the second year 2% with an increase of 2.5% the third year. Over the next three years the new contract will cost the District over $800,000. Martin said the District will need to move an additional $161,126 from other areas into teachers' salaries to meet the contract requirements for this year. For the second year Martin said the District will have to find an additional $357,825 and $343,927 for the third year. Superintendent Martin said the District's contribution to health care insurance is 8% per year. The District will increase its contribution to health care insurance from $880,000 a year to $1.1 million by the third year. The current budget for the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District is close to $21 million said Martin. If no additional money is received from the State or the Ketchikan Borough, Superintendent Martin said 5 teaching positions could be cut the second year of the new contract to cover the additional costs and 4.8 teaching positions could be cut the third year to meet the contract requirements. The District currently has 155 teaching positions.
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