8/27/08 Redmond
 
The Redmond School District Board voted a unanimous 'yes' Wednesday on new contracts for teachers.
 
Employees will receive a 4% increase in pay for the 2008-2009 school year.  For the two years following, they will receive an additional cost of living increase anywhere from 2.5% to 4% each year.  Also, the district will pay more on employees' insurance.
 
Union reps say the Redmond School District had the lowest amount of professional development funds in Central Oregon.  Those have also increased.  "That was a real big benefit for us," says Barry Branaugh with the teachers' union.  "It'll be a tiered increase over three years, but it'll give our folks a much better chance to go further with their education and then try and improve their skills for their profession."
 
This agreement is good through the 2010-2011 school year.  The union will meet with teachers Thursday to go over the new contracts.