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Friday, January 31, 2025AfiSectionindianapolisrecorder.comBy AMELIA PAK-HARVEYChalkbeat and SYDNEY DAUPHINIASWFYIIndianapolis Public Schools is once again paying teachers the highest starting salaries in Marion County after the latest round of contract negotiations between districts and unions.The contracts for this school year come as lawmakers push for a higher minimum state teacher salary in a bid to make teaching a more attractive career. Boosting teacher pay is also one of new Gov. Mike Braun%u2019s priorities. But raising the state minimum might not have much impact on teachers in Indianapolis district schools: Nearly all of the 11 Marion County school districts offer a starting salary that%u2019s at least $10,000 above the statewide minimum of $40,000. IPS offers the highest minimum salary at $53,460, followed by the Metropolitan School District of Pike Township at $53,000. All districts except Franklin Township Community School Corporation offer a starting salary of at least $50,000. IPS boosted its starting pay to above the $50,000 mark in 2022, creating a competitive threshold for nearby districts to meet. The Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township surpassed the district in starting salary last school year, but IPS returns as the district paying the highest starting salary for 2024-25.Six of the 11 districts negotiated new contracts this year, while the remainder are in the second year of two-year contracts. The contracts don%u2019t cover charter schools, which are separate from the districts and are not unionized. Depending on the school district%u2019s contract, teachers can also receive stipends in addition to base pay. These can include extra money for overseeing extracurricular activities or athletics, or for having specialized teaching certification such as National Board Certification. Under state law, teachers who are rated as %u201cineffective%u201d or %u201cimprovement necessary%u201d for the prior school year %u2014 the two lowest ratings on the teacher evaluation scale %u2014 are not eligible for an increase in base pay.Statewide, the average annual teacher salary increased to $60,557 in 2024, about $2,000 above the prior year. While IPS has the highest starting pay, its average salary was the lowest in the city last school year. That could be for a number of reasons, including a higher proportion of less experienced teachers or a salary range where more experienced teachers are not paid as much as in other districts. Average teacher salaries in Marion County districts for 2023-24 ranged from $55,883 in IPS to $71,659 in the School Town of Speedway. All but two districts %u2014 IPS and Franklin Township %u2014 pay above the statewide average. Lawmakers seek to boost minimum teacher payLegislators have different ideas for just how much Indiana teachers%u2019 minimum pay should increase. One bill by Republican Sen. Linda Rogers would raise the minimum salary to $45,000. Another bill by Democratic Sen. Fady Qaddoura would raise it to $65,000. Those proposals, while supported by some districts, could carry a hefty price tag. The Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township said in a statement it strongly supports an increase in base teacher pay.%u201cThis type of investment will enhance our ability to attract and retain exceptional teachers who are vital to student success,%u201d the district said. For Beech Grove City Schools, raising the minimum salary to $65,000 would cost roughly an additional $1.2 million plus benefits, according to the district of roughly 3,000 students. And in Pike Township, raising minimum teacher pay without additional state funding would likely require another referendum, according to Superintendent Larry Young. In addition, the district has to balance raises for veteran teachers with competitive starting salaries for newer teachers, Young said.Young said he would like to increase the minimum salary in Pike regardless of whether the state passes legislation forcing districts to do so. But he%u2019s doubtful lawmakers will agree to give the district more money to pay for the increase.%u201cI hope that%u2019s something we can do with funding that comes to the schools, because our teachers absolutely deserve it,%u201d he said. %u201cBut the only way we can do that is if the funding follows it.%u201dAmelia Pak-Harvey covers Indianapolis and Lawrence Township schools for Chalkbeat Indiana. Contact Amelia at apak-harvey@chalkbeat.org. WFYI education reporter Sydney Dauphinais covers Marion County schools. Contact her at sdauphinais@wfyi.org.Minimum teacher salaries: Nearly all Indianapolis school districts ofi er over $50,000Remarkable People.To learn more about careers with Eskenazi Health, please call 317.880.3344 or visit eskenazihealth.edu/careers.Quality Care.IRTLIVE.COM | 317.635.5252Original artwork by Jingo M. de la Rosa.JANUARY 14 - FEBRUARY 9presented byKING JAMESby Rajiv JosephBROTHERHOOD AND BASKETBALLTwo young men%u2014one Black, one white%u2014meet and bond over their love for the Cavaliers during LeBron James%u2019 rookie season in Cleveland. Over the next twelve years, their passion for basketball never wavers, even as their lives keep moving in different directions. This warm, surprising, touching comedy about friendship, loyalty, loss, and the game is a slam dunk.