Amanda Smith
Managing Editor
Every year, the Board of Trustees meets to discuss salaries and benefits of Butler employees under the Master Agreement and this year the negotiation team had proposed a 2.5 percent salary increase with no change in insurance– a policy that will be up for approval on Tuesday, Sept 10. This negotiation process began in January and wrapped up negotiations at the end of August.
“This process recognizes the value of the work that professional employees provide for our students and the college and the necessity that these professionals should, at a minimum, maintain their standard of living and even improve that standard of living as they continue to improve their craft,” Professor of Ethics and Philosophy Terry Sader said.
Along with Sader on the negotiation team was President Kimberly Krull, Vice President Lori Winningham, Vice President Bill Rinkenbaugh and Associate Vice President Shelley Stultz representing the Board and Professor of English John Jenkinson, Professor of Speech Gregory May, Professor of Math Kamielle Freeman, Professor of English Bradley Beachy and Advisor Jamie Williams.
Negotiations regarding salary in the last five years have ranged from 1.35 percent to 3 percent, so the most recent change falls on the higher end of this scale– a change that board member Kris Estes supports and believes with help with current and future employment.
“I am very happy that this year’s raise also raised the “floor” of our hiring schedule,” Estes said. “We know this will help tremendously with recruiting new faculty members in the future as current ones retire or seek employment elsewhere.”
According to Estes, the raise– if passed– will bring the base salary closer to the Board’s goal of a $40,000 salary for all faculty and teachers in Kansas, a goal that Andover, El Dorado and Ark City school districts have already met.
If approved, the salary increase will be reflected in the September payroll, but since the contract pay periods run August through July, the additional pay for August will be included in that September pay as well.
“There is a lot of research that employees respond favorably to regular raises with predictable increases in productivity, morale and general job satisfaction,” Estes added. “We all appreciate being valued as employees. I hope it also sways those employees who may still be undecided to make a commitment to stay at Butler for their full teaching careers.”