The Tahoma School District and the Tahoma Education Association (TEA) have come to a tentative agreement about salary increase for teachers in the district.

Last night, Aug. 29, 98 percent of the TEA members agreed to ratify a 14.5 salary increase for teachers in the Tahoma School District, according to David Aaby, president of TEA.

Now, the TEA just need to get approval from the school board before the increase is official. Aaby said there is a meeting tonight, Aug. 30, where the school board will vote on if they want to approve it or not.

“I’m confident it will be approved by the school board,” Aaby said.

He said during budget negotiation meetings that took place last week (the week of Aug. 20), the district and the association were able to have a collaborative discussion.

“(Trying to use) the McCleary funds that were coming to the district that are meant for salary and trying to get as many of those dollars towards our teachers as possible and also to stay competitive with our surrounding districts, but also still try to make sure that we’re respecting our resources that our tax payers in Maple Valley give us and trying to be fiscally responsible, but also trying to be competitive,” Aaby said.

With this increase in salary, a starting teacher with a bachelor’s degree and no experience will get a total compensation of $54,929 and the most experienced employees with a masters will make about $107,001, according to the the tentative agreement summary on the school district’s website.

“We think this tentative agreement will provide competitive salaries and help the school district keep and attract outstanding teachers,” Kevin Patterson, director of communications at the school district, said in an email.

This is a three-year agreement and it would start in September 2018 and end in August 2021.

Aaby said the contract not only includes salary increase for teachers, but it also has more agreements included in it, such as an increase in planning time for elementary school teachers.

He also said in year two and year three of the contract, there will be cost of living increases that the state funds in.

“I would just say that is one of the amazing things, I really do feel that our teachers association and our district have an extremely collaborative relationship and I think at times things do get intense at bargaining, but ultimately I believe that both of our groups have our students in mind and also each other in mind and our community in mind,” Aaby said. “We have a very supportive community in Maple Valley and I think that awesome support of community is demonstrated between the district and the association. It’s a cool process and I think that both sides are winners.”

To view the full tentative agreement, go to https://www.tahomasd.us/news/announcements/tea_votes_to_ratify_new_contract.