Muncie teachers receive another pay increase

The Muncie Community Schools Board of Trustees has approved a fourth consecutive salary increase for teachers. The district said the increase will keep MCS teachers among the highest paid in east central Indiana.

Beginning in the 2023-24 academic year, all current, full-time certified teachers will receive a minimum raise of $3,000. Those deemed “highly effective” will receive an additional $2,000 in salary, with teachers deemed “effective” will get an additional $1,000.

The district is also increasing salaries for beginning teachers to $51,000, which is $16,000 more than 2018 salaries.

“It’s important for us to reward our teachers, and especially our best teachers,” MCS Board President James Williams said in a news release. “They are the backbone of a quality school district and we are sending a clear signal that we are going to pay top dollar to bring in and keep the best teaching talent in the area.”

Additionally, MCS said teachers selected as their school’s Teacher of the Year will receive an additional $1,000 in recurring salary. The two district-wide Teacher of the Year winners, one for primary level and one for secondary level, will each receive an additional $2,000 in recurring salary.

The district said the increases will have an overall cost of $1.5 million.

“If you’re a successful, dedicated teacher who enjoys helping children succeed in the classroom, we want you,” MCS Director of Public Education and CEO Lee Ann Kwiatkowski said. “We have a lot to offer teachers, including a pretty good salary. We’ve come a long way in a pretty short time in that area.”

The district added raises for MCS support staff will be considered and presented to the board next month.

Salary increases and stipends have been a regular occurrence at MCS since 2018, when Ball State University began its oversight of the district. MCS had been placed under state control due to financial difficulties.