Teachers in Clark County ratify 4 percent pay raise
Just 4 percent of eligible Clark County School District teachers turned out for a contract ratification vote, but those who did overwhelmingly approved the offer of a 4 percent cost of living increase.
John Jasonek, the executive director of the Clark County Education Association, said Tuesday that the terms were approved by a 94 percent margin. About 500 teachers from the union membership of 13,000 voted. Jasonek said the low turnout was typical.
The salary increase normally would take effect July 1, pending final ratification by the district School Board. But the uncertainty over the state budget has district officials wondering whether they will have the state funds to cover the salary increases.
Gov. Jim Gibbons is considering calling a special session of the Legislature to rescind or scale back pay raises for state employees, teachers and university staff if state tax revenues are down. Gibbons is waiting on a sales tax report that will indicate whether a special session is necessary.
But Jasonek is treating the 4 percent salary increase as a done deal. The School Board approved the parameters of the contract before negotiations began, Jasonek said, and he can’t see them backing out of it now.
“I have never seen it in the 135 contracts I’ve done,” Jasonek said.