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SALT LAKE CITY — The Granite School District has approved a significant pay raise for its teachers — the largest in any district so far this year.
All new teachers will now receive $41,000 a year, and all current teachers will receive an 11.67 percent raise.
"My first response was kind of like, 'OK, what's the catch?'" said Michael McDonough, a teacher who has spent 20 years in the Granite School District.
He said the raise is unprecedented, and that even in good years, the raise has been somewhere around 3 or 4 percent. The district saw an increase in its weighted pupil unit —which is a measurement of the cost to a school per student— by 4 percent, so McDonough said he expected somewhere around 4 percent for a raise.
The school district exceeded expectations and hopes the move will help it achieve its goals.
"We expect that not only will Granite be fully staffed in terms of our classrooms, but we will become the destination district for educators," said district Superintendent Martin Bates.
Granite Educators Association President Susen Zobel said part of the increase was made possible by the Utah Legislature's decision to increase the value of the weighted pupil unit by 4 percent earler this year. She added that they were able to add 8 percent from a board levy that the tax code allows.
GEA President, expresses appreciation to the board for the new settlement that raises teacher salaries by almost 12%! Thanks Susen!! pic.twitter.com/IOEpuKMid2
— Granite School Dist. (@GraniteSchools) May 3, 2017
"Granite's never taken their full board levy, but they did do that this time to be able to pay their teachers," she said. McDonough said that decision won't go unnoticed.
"It's not easy," he said. "It's going to mean a tax increase for everybody. It's a real investment and teachers appreciate it."
The significant pay increase is the biggest salary increase in the district since 1961. That year, teachers received a 10 percent increase.
