Flat Rock-Hawcreek teachers agree to new 2-year contract

Teachers and administrators in the Hope-area schools have agreed on the details of a new contract.

According to negotiators between Flat Rock-Hawcreek Schools and the teacher’s association, starting teachers will see an increase of $3,250 and the top of the pay scale for long-time teachers with a masters degree will also go up $3,250.

Superintendent Shawn Price explains that the pay increases all will be in the first year of the two year contract.

Collectively, teachers will see a pay increase of just under 7 percent.

And there will be lower health care costs. Price said premiums have fallen for the past two years. In the new contract, the corporation will be increasing its contribution to the insurance, going from $843 a month to $1,000 per month for family plans and from $396 to $400 per month for single plan members.

The district will also be providing one-time contributions to the educators’ Health Savings Accounts, with $1,000 for a family and $500 for a single.

Price said the negotiations went quickly and they were cordial.

Teacher Stacy Kirk represented the association and said that negotiations went smoothly.

Price says that Flat Rock-Hawcreek schools added almost 40 students this year. With that rising enrollment, comes more money from the state which allows for higher pay. The district is also benefiting from a $6 million dollar increase in the assessed value of property in the community.

The agreement still must be ratified.