Gary teachers in line for first raise in a decade

GARY, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Public school teachers in Gary are set to receive their first raise in more than ten years. The Gary Community School Corp. and Gary Teachers Union have agreed on a new contract, which will include a 5.3% raise.

The pay increase is due in part to voters approving a referendum earlier this month.

As part of the one-year contract, GCSC and the teacher’s union also agreed to a retirement provision that will help some teachers with the most years of service.

“The members are very happy and very excited to receive a raise after such a long period of time. We are really looking forward to continuing the work going on. We are excited about all of the changes going on across the GCSC, and we’re looking forward to a bright future,” said GlenEva Dunham, president of the Gary Teachers Union.

The school corporation says passage of the referendum will allow it to renovate schools across the city as part of the $25 million School Improvement Fund.

Aside from the referendum, GCSC says its overall financial picture is improving. It says from August 2017 to December 2019, the school district’s deficit has fallen from $22 million to $6 million, and the school district’s debt has fallen from $104 million to $79 million.