SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ) – For the second time in three years, one area school is raising the entry pay for teachers.
In order to compete and retain teachers, the Shawano District has approved starting teacher salaries that are more than what nearby districts are paying.
“It was $37,000 dollars and prior to that, it was somewhere around $34,000.
Todd Kleinhans, HR Director of the District says now it has been approved to be 40,000 dollars, which is near what schools like Howard-Suamico, New London and Green Bay are paying, bypassing districts like Pulaski, West De Pere and Oconto Falls, but still below state average.
The increase puts Shawano above the average 20 surrounding districts.
“You are seeing a starting salary average of being over $40,000 dollars. We don’t feel we have the resources to be the highest paying district, but we don’t want to be in the lower half as well.”
Shawano has had a lot of teacher turnover in the last few years. The district will look at the pay structure again in two years.
