The Franklin Township Community School Corporation (FTCSC) School Board has approved a new two-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Franklin Township Education Association (FTEA), reaffirming the district’s commitment to investing in all of its educators and ensuring FTCSC remains a destination for exceptional teaching talent.
The new agreement reflects months of collaboration between the district and FTEA, resulting in meaningful improvements to teacher compensation, benefits, and support systems, all with the shared goal of strengthening schools and better serving students and families.
FTCSC values its certified staff and remains dedicated to providing competitive salaries across the entire salary schedule. Through positive and collaborative negotiations with FTEA, the new agreement increases the starting teacher salary to $48,000 in 2025, followed by a further increase to $51,000 in 2026. In addition to these adjustments, the agreement includes pay increases and additional loyalty stipends for teachers across years 6-21+, supporting the retention of experienced educators whose continued service is vital to student success. These significant increases align FTCSC more closely with surrounding Central Indiana school districts and demonstrate the district’s proactive commitment to attracting and retaining high-quality educators.
“FTEA appreciates the partnership we have with FTCSC, both inside the bargaining room and out. Our shared goals and ease of communication help in all aspects of bargaining and collaboration throughout the year. We appreciate the attention to salaries and loyalty stipends for teachers at various levels within the salary schedule as we work to stay competitive with other districts in order to attract and retain exceptional teachers,” said Katie Cadle, FTEA President.
“We are grateful to the Franklin Township Education Association for their collaboration and partnership throughout this process,” said Dr. Chase Huotari, Superintendent of FTCSC. “Together, we worked to make significant strides in compensating our teachers from those early in their careers to the many dedicated educators who have committed years of service to our FTCSC Flashes Community!”
The CBA also includes an additional $250 permanent adjustment to base pay for teachers who have earned a Literacy Endorsement, recognizing and rewarding continued professional development. The contract consists of five days of parental leave for all staff, reflecting FTCSC’s ongoing commitment to supporting employees and their families. In addition, it maintains no changes to employee insurance plans, ensuring continued stability in benefits. The district will also continue 100% district-paid retirement contributions and will cover the new 0.6% TRF contribution, reinforcing FTCSC’s commitment to supporting employees both now and in the future.
“This contract reflects our shared belief that investing in our teachers is an investment in our students,” said Mr. Zachary Smith Howard, FTCSC School Board President. “We are proud of the respectful and productive collaboration between the district and FTEA that made this agreement possible, and we believe this agreement provides meaningful support for all educators at every stage of their careers.”
“This agreement is the result of meaningful collaboration,” added Dr. Huotari. “Our teachers are the heartbeat of FTCSC, and this agreement shows our commitment to supporting and valuing their vital work of making a difference in the lives of our students.”
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