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@cssd11
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-- The Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education is pleased to announce the successful completion of compensation negotiations with all three D11 employee groups. All D11 employee groups will see across-the-board pay raises starting July 1. Through these collaborative discussions, the Board of Education and employee groups committed to prioritizing investing in all staff through competitive compensation packages, high-quality professional development, and supportive work environments.
The D11 starting teacher salary will be $50,000, representing a 20 percent pay bump from the previous starting teacher salary, demonstrating dedication to supporting the invaluable work of educators. Alongside this landmark salary increase, there will be across-the-board pay raises for all employees within the school district in the heart of the city. The averages of the total recurring and non-recurring percent increases for each employee group starting at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year are:
*This represents a market adjustment, strategically deploying critical funds to staff closest to students and classrooms.
Recognizing the crucial role all D11 employees play in shaping the future of the Colorado Springs community, a significant investment is being made in D11 to ensure competitive compensation for all staff. The investment in these compensation packages for all three employee groups is more than any other compensation package offered to D11 employees over the past 20 years.
“The Board is collectively committed to student success and staff investment priorities. These historic raises not only serve as a testament to the appreciation for the hard work and dedication demonstrated by our exceptional employees but also serve to attract talented staff to our district,” remarked Dr. Parth Melpakam, School Board President.
Dr. Joseph Schott, President of the Colorado Springs Education Association (CSEA) says, “The CSEA Bargaining Team appreciates the overwhelming demonstration of support from hundreds and hundreds of teachers that made clear to the district their dedication to professionalism and their expectation of appropriate compensation on which to build careers as educators. We are glad that the district heard teachers' voices and agreed to the financial package and valuable adjustments to issues in the workplace.”
The decision to provide across-the-board employee raises reflects our commitment to fostering a positive work environment for all members of the D11 school community. Teachers, administrators, support staff, and other employees are essential to the successful operation of the District, and it is essential to recognize their contributions.
The Education Support Professionals who support the District's mission in many ways saw one of the highest increases in recent history. “This has been the most collaborative process we have had so far,” says Brenda McKinney, outgoing ESP President.
“The Executive Professional group appreciates the time and effort that was put forth to come to this decision. The work across all employee groups will allow the district to be competitive with all districts and bring the best and most qualified applicants to D11 to provide an excellent work environment for the employee and a strong learning environment for all students,” says Jim Nason, President of the D11 Executive Professional's group and principal at Swigert Middle School.
“As The Colorado Springs School District 11, we are the backbone of student academic excellence, and providing competitive compensation is a vital component in achieving student success by attracting and retaining exceptional educators and staff members”, remarked Michael Gaal, Superintendent. “By implementing these unprecedented salary adjustments, we aim to strengthen our ability to recruit and retain talented individuals who will contribute to the continued success of our students and the entire school district.”
The Colorado Springs School District 11 is the third largest school district in El Paso County, representing the heart of the City. D11 has served the Colorado Springs community for over 150 years, providing excellent education to students throughout the region and boasting the most robust academic choices for families.
Teachers are the certified educators in D11, both in and out of the classroom, who instruct students, coach other teachers, and support professional development. D11 employs 1,781 teachers.
Education Support Professionals are the classified staff in D11 (full-time or part-time) who ensure students have the tools and support they need to succeed. This includes paraeducators, food service workers, bus drivers and mechanics, custodians and facility managers, school secretaries and clerical staff, nurses and health aides, maintenance employees, security personnel, landscapers and groundskeepers, technicians, and more. The District employs 1,400 ESP staff.
Executive Professionals are the non-classified employees who support schools and departments through administrative functions like administration and leadership. There are 262 executive professionals employed by D11.
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