A tentative master agreement for the coming school year, approved by the USD 470 board of education, includes a pay increase for teachers and administrators. Final approval is contingent on a faculty vote.
Board approval came at a regularly scheduled meeting this week. Certified staff – which includes teachers, will now have a base pay of $53,270. The deal also includes an increase in the district’s contribution to employee health insurance to compensate for an increase in insurance premiums.
Overall that makes for a 3.9 percent increase in the district’s compensation costs, according to numbers provided by USD 470. District administrators will receive a pay increase of the same amount.
The new agreement was negotiated by the district and the Arkansas City Teachers Association. It outlines salaries, benefits and working conditions for certified staff.
Details provided by the district include:
- The proposed agreement allows for step and column movement, includes a $250 increase to the non-indexed base salary (now totaling $2,750) and a $1,100 increase to the indexed base salary. It also adds a new salary column for M+45 and two weeks of paid parental leave, among other things.
- The Board approved health and ancillary benefit plans for USD 470 staff for the 2025-2026 school year. The district will continue offering medical coverage through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, with both PPO and high-deductible options available. There will be a slight 1.9 percent increase in medical insurance costs and a 0.10 percent increase in dental. To help offset these changes, the district will increase its monthly contribution toward employee health insurance from $440 to $470 for those who choose to participate. Dental, vision, and other voluntary benefits will remain available to support the well-being of staff and their families.
- The Board approved 3.90% overall pay increases for both classified and administrative staff for the 2025-2026 school year. This includes a 3.55% salary increase and a 0.35% increase in the district’s insurance contribution ($30 per month). BOE Briefs – 07142025
