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Utica Teacher Contract: Detailed Analysis: Salary Schedule
Utica Teacher Contract: Detailed Analysis: Salary Schedule
Utica Teacher Contract: Detailed Analysis: Salary Schedule
The following is a detailed analysis of the current Utica Community Schools contract that covers
teachers as well as a few other employee groups. The district employs about 1,640 teachers and
enrolls 29,200 students. Of its $260 million operating budget, about 70 percent goes toward
paying employees working under this contract.
Salary Schedule
Base salaries are determined strictly by "steps," which use a matrix of years experience
and graduate credit hours and degrees.
There of 11 "steps" on the schedule, meaning teachers get automatic pay raises of
between 5 and 8 percent for their first 11 years in the district, except for steps 3 and 11
with yield about a 13 percent pay increase.
In addition to step increases, the entire salary schedule increases by 1.5 percent each year
so every teacher gets at least a 1.5 percent raise automatically.
86 percent of teachers have graduate degrees and 75 percent have more than 5 years
experience, meaning the vast majority of teachers' base salary is between $63,224 and
$88,853.
The Michigan Department of Education reported the average teacher salary in Utica in
2007-08 was $75,420.
Fringe Benefits
District pays $15,034 annually for teacher health insurance family premiums.
Teachers contribute nothing to the cost of the premium, unless they "buy-up" to a higher
priced health insurance plan.
The average family premium plan in Michigan costs $11,300, with employees
contributing 22 percent of those costs.
Health insurance plans:
MESSA Super Care I ($19,181 annual premium): $100/$200 deductible
MESSA Choices II ($15,034 annual premium): $200/$400 deductible, $10/$20 Rx and
$5 office visit co-pay.
The district also provides at no cost to teachers a $40,000 life insurance policy, long-term
disability, dental and vision insurance.
Teachers electing not to enroll in either of the offered medical insurance plan get $1,500
annually, $50,000 life insurance policy and dental insurance.
Leave/Sick Time
11 sick leave days per year on average that may be used for:
o Personal illness
o Family illness
o Bereavement and funerals (no more than 6 days per year)
o Personal days (max of 2-6 per year)
o Business day (1 per year)
o Jury duty
Accumulated sick leave days earn teachers additional personal days:
o 40 sick leave days = 3 personal days
o 65 sick leave days = 4 personal days
o 100 sick leave days = 5 personal days
o 150 sick leave days = 6 personal days
Sabbaticals: Half salary for one full year
100 days of leave may be used by the union for union business
Teachers will have 5 days of professional development each year
Uncompensated leave time (employees return to position after leave time):
o Military duty (as federal law prescribes)
o Physical/mental incapacity (with doctor's recommendation)
o Child care (1 year max)
o "Exploring the possibility of making a 'career change'" (1 year max)
o Public office (1 year max)
Union negotiators are allowed release time during negotiations
Work Schedule/Environment
184 contractual work days (may skip last day if grades are completed)
Work day schedule:
o Elementary: 7 hours, 5 minutes
o Secondary: 7 hours, 20 minutes
Average work hours per year: 1,326
U.S. average hours per work year: 1,792
Duty-free lunch period:
o Elementary: 40 minutes
o Secondary: 30 minutes
Preparation periods:
o Elementary: 230 minutes per week
o Secondary: 1 full class period per day
Faculty meetings: no more than 2 per month
Evening functions: no more than 4 per year
Teachers may not be required to move desks, chairs or filing cabinets.