Future Staff Needs That Will Require May 2020 Referendum Support In order to maintain the high quality education that Washington Township (WT) schools provide to our students every day, WT continually evaluates our staffing to insure that we are effectively meeting the needs of all learners. We have spent the last twelve months engaged in a great deal of information gathering regarding staffing from all facets of our community. Teachers, parents, community members and staff provided their input in areas of need that could be addressed by providing additional staff. In addition, the school board commissioned an independent evaluation of WT staffing relative to surrounding schools to make sure that we are providing students the finest educational opportunity in the Indianapolis area. Based on this extensive gathering of community feedback and staffing information, our school board is currently considering the following staffing priorities.
Maintaining Current Staff Supported by the 2016 Operating Referendum
The 2016 operating referendum ends in 2023 and we need to plan for the future of the staff that these funds support. The 2016 operating referendum currently supports the staffing of multiple positions at Willow Lake Elementary School which opened in the Fall of 2019. This includes the principal, assistant principal, office support staff; special area teachers such as art, physical education and music; special education teachers and English as a New Language (ENL) teachers, dual language immersion teachers, instructional coaches, and classroom teachers. In addition, the 2016 referendum provides funding for ten district social workers, special education teachers at the middle school level, a social and emotional behavior coach, a middle school mental health therapist, an additional speech pathologist and twenty-one other new positions for additional student support. The continued impact of all of these positions are critical to the success of WT students moving forward.
Competitive Compensation for Existing Staff
One significant finding of our recent compensation audit was the identification of staff positions, including our current first year teacher salaries, that are not in alignment with pay rates in the greater Indianapolis area. We are committed to remaining competitive with surrounding schools and will be actively working to address these discrepancies. A future referendum would support our current staff in the following ways: • Increase to teacher pay (required collective bargaining process would occur by law Fall 2020) • Increase in pay to all classified staff (bus drivers, instructional assistants, custodians, front office staff, etc.) • Compensation adjustments to specific staff positions to make wages competitive with surrounding Districts
Additional School Staff to Support School Safety, Academic Achievement and Student Programs Elementary
• Staff to Support Behavioral, Social and Emotional Needs of Students • Elementary Technology Teachers • Staff to Support Alternatives to Suspension • School Police Officers
Middle School
• Staff to Support Behavioral, Social and Emotional Needs of Students • Special Education Department Chairs • Additional School Counselors • Staff to Support Alternatives to Suspension • Additional Athletic Coaches
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As a 42 year resident of Washington Township, parent of two North Central graduates, and a former 40 year employee of the WT (Teacher, Assistant Principal, Elementary Principal and Human Resources Director), I was always impressed with the outstanding educational programs and supportive extracurricular activities afforded students in our school district. I commend the Board of Education, administrators, teachers, parents, and community members who are planning for the future to ensure that the 65 year tradition of educational excellence continues in our exceptional school district. Our students deserve nothing but the best! ~Joe Erne, Resident
