Sidney teacher contract package approved

A comprehensive agreement between the Sidney Public School District and its teachers for the next school year has been approved.

At a school board meeting on Monday, a motion to accept the 2016-17 agreement passed unanimously. Superintendent Jay Ehler told the board the Sidney Educators Association had recently given its approval to the comprehensive agreement.

After negotiations, only minor changes were made to the document over last year, he added.

The base salary for teachers increased slightly more than half a percent – or $200 – from $33,700 to $33,900.

Additionally, paid time off days increased from eight to 10. However, while in the past, unused PTO days could be cashed out at a substitute rate of pay at then end of the school year, they will now automatically go into a sick bank.

The only exception, Ehler said, is for teachers who have already accumulated 75 days.

"We will still allow those teachers to come in at the end of the year and get sub-rate pay for those days," he explained.

The health deductible for teachers also increased from $750 to $900.

Board member Randy Miller said that was a change he liked. Raising the deductible saves the district money and will serve as an incentive for teachers to stay healthy, he said.

"We have to find some way to save money," he remarked.

School board members unanimously approved the comprehensive agreement.