BEATRICE – After ten meetings between the two sides, a new teacher contract for 2023-2024 has been approved in the Beatrice School District.
School Board negotiating committee Chairperson Janet Byars said Monday night the Beatrice Education Association, representing teachers, approved the agreement on Monday.


"The base salary for a beginning teacher will increase from $36,725, to $37,475. This is the largest base increase since the 2008-9 school year."


The agreement increases the health insurance deductible from $1,050 to $1,200. With the new base pay figure of $37,475…the agreement, depending on total salary and benefits….ranges from $53,500 to $70,800 for each instructor.  "The total package increase is 3.74 percent...the cost to the district is $500,716." 


Extra duty pay was not a part of the contract agreement. The contract for full-time teachers is based on 186 days. Byars said the agreement meets a goal of hiring and retaining high quality staff.


Also on Monday night, the Beatrice Board of Education approved granting right-of-way and a permanent utility easement to the City of Beatrice, in connection with the new Pre-K—Fifth grade elementary school being constructed near 33rd and Lincoln Streets.


"There are three steps in this process to approve these easements, that are all necessary to continue the construction, keep it going and hopefully meet that deadline of mid-August, 2024." Superintendent Jason Alexander says approval of the two easements from the Southeast Nebraska Education Agency and Pinnacle Bank are also required. SNEA was scheduled to meet Tuesday. That’s the interlocal agency set up for the construction of the new school.