Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education considering new contract for teachers

The Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education discussed a new contract for teachers that includes changes to professional learning time, during which teachers discuss with each other how to improve their lessons, at their meeting on Tuesday.

Currently, LPS dismisses high school students about one-hour early every Tuesday to give teachers that time. Elementary and middle school students are dismissed early on one Tuesday a month.

With the new contract, instead of early dismissals, teachers would be given six days throughout the school year dedicated to professional learning in the morning and plan time in the afternoon.

Blake Simpson, LPS Director of Employee Relations, said he thinks this change will help teachers be more successful.

“Our purpose was to show that we did value certified personnel as professionals and to use their time efficiently,” Simpson said.

The contract would also raise the base annual salary for teachers from over $47,300 to $48,556.

Simpson said the salary schedule would also be condensed from 40 steps to 25 steps.

“This helps it to be a more sustainable salary schedule, it helps make us more competitive, particularly with mid-career professionals where there was some stagnation,” he said.

Other proposed changes include allowing only one required staff meeting up to 75 minutes a month and matching up the school calendar for all grade levels.

The board will vote on the new contract between LPS and the Lincoln Education Association at their next meeting on Feb. 13.