Minimum starting salary now $51,000
By Andy Klotz—
MUNCIE, IN– For the fourth consecutive year, the Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Board of Trustees has approved significant salary increases for its teachers. All current, full-time certified teachers will receive a minimum raise of $3,000 beginning in the 2023-24 school year. Teachers deemed “highly effective” will receive an additional $2,000 in salary while those classified as “effective” will get an additional $1,000.
The latest increase will keep MCS near the top of the list in teacher compensation for all districts in East Central Indiana. It will also bump salaries for beginning teachers up to $51,000 – that’s over $16,000 more than just five years ago. The additional pay will cost the district approximately $1.5 million overall.
“It’s important for us to reward our teachers, and especially our best teachers,” MCS Board President James Williams said. “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.”
The board recently approved another program that rewards current MCS employees who recruit other highly effective teachers into the district. Each qualifying referral will pay the referring employee $500.
“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.”
MCS teachers went several years without raises before Ball State stepped in to partner with the district in 2018. Since then, stipends and salary increases have been a regular occurrence.
On top of the $3,000 to $5,000 all teachers will receive, those teachers selected as their school’s Teacher of the Year will receive an additional $1,000 in recurring salary. Additionally, administrators will select two district Teachers of the Year – one for primary level and one for secondary level – and they will each receive an additional $2,000 in recurring salary.
Raises for MCS support staff will be considered and presented to the board in May.
About Muncie Community Schools
Serving the local community since 1855, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) educates more than 5,000 students at six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school while also managing several other educational facilities. Through its unique partnership with Ball State University, MCS strives to maximize each student’s potential so he or she can be a positive, productive member of society. Find out more about MCS or Director of Public Education and CEO Lee Ann Kwiatkowski at muncieschools.org.
