Under a tentative agreement reached with the Highline Education Association this week, Highline Public Schools will raise Educator salaries by 13 percent for the 2018-19 school year, the district announced.
In the tentative agreement between HPS and HEA, it provides teachers with a salary range that tops out at $111,245 for 2018-19 – among the highest in comparable school districts.
“Through a combination of cost of living adjustments and salary increases, Highline has consistently invested in educator pay over the past five years,” the district said. “Combined, these increases amount to a 36.4% increase.”
The district says that increases to teacher salaries have been:
- 2014-15: 3.5 percent
- 2015-16: 4.7 percent
- 2016-17: 5.6 percent
- 2017-18: 9.6 percent
- 2018-19: 13 percent (subject to HEA ratification)
Here’s more info from the district:
This increase allows Highline to stay within its budget through the coming changes in school funding prompted by the McCleary decision.
Under the state legislature’s McCleary plan, Highline will get more state dollars but fewer local levy dollars. The McCleary plan increases state dollars through a funding swap: next year, Highline’s local levy funding will be cut to less than half what voters approved in 2018.
Much of the new state dollars must be used for certain programs, like lower class sizes and special education. The increase Highline receives from the state will not make up for the loss of levy dollars next year.
In 2019-20, Highline will have a net loss in revenue. In 2020-21, Highline will see a revenue increase, but it will be minimal.
To prevent major cuts to staff and programs in the next two years, Highline is saving some current year levy dollars to make up for the loss in revenue.
Highline produced a video that explains the funding picture in simple terms:
Storing Away our Acorns from Highline Public Schools on Vimeo.
A summary of this information is posted at highlineschools.org/acorns.
Under a tentative agreement reached this week, we'll raise teacher salaries by 13% & stay within our budget through the coming changes in school funding prompted by #McCleary. #HighlineAcorns
https://t.co/osTSbYSzXk pic.twitter.com/yF0PXcY5UW
— Highline Schools (@HighlineSchools) August 29, 2018
