The rural, 1,500-student school system in the last year has been the target of two federal lawsuits springing largely from the district’s rare policy of allowing some volunteer teachers and school staffers to have access to firearms.
The lawsuits - one of which involves some district residents contending their freedom to speak during school board meetings has been unlawfully restricted - combined with the controversy about Madison’s decision to become the first school district in Southwest Ohio to arm school staffers has drawn much attention to the relatively small school system.
In 2016, a shooting incident at Madison Jr./Sr. High School, during which a student injured four of his classmates, drew national attention and prompted school officials to aggressively consider arming trained staffers.
But for at least on the labor front, Madison Schools will have stability for the next three years, after teachers recently approved the new employment contract.
Pay raises were an essential part of the labor pact and in keeping quality teachers from seeking work in other districts, said Madison Schools Superintendent Lisa Tuttle-Huff.
“My hope is that this new contract demonstrates our commitment to recruiting and keeping the best teachers in Madison. Our children deserve the best teachers and our teachers deserve the three-year contract and raise,” Tuttle-Huff said.
Under the new agreement, which runs through 2022, teachers will receive a 4 percent raise now, followed by 3 percent and 2 percent in the following two years.
The average annual salary for Madison teachers is $50,889, and they average 11 years of experience, according to the Ohio Department of Education.
Ohio’s average teacher salary is $58,849.
Under Ohio school law, the contractual pay raises will come on top of scheduled salary step increases for those Madison teachers who qualify for additional pay increases due to their earning advance college or professional certification, reaching set seniority stages or because they teach specialty classes.
The new contract contains no increase in the portion of healthcare costs paid by teachers.
Officials with the Madison teachers union did not respond to messages seeking their comments.
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