Nodaway-Holt approves retention pay

ty teachers that we have,” Blackford said.

Teachers' job satisfaction is at the lowest level in 50 years, this applies to interest in education majors in students in high school and college. NodawayHolt R-VII Education Board approved a $1,000 salary increase for 2023-2024, setting the base pay at $36,500 to combat this low level.

Nodaway-Holt R-VII Superintendent Jeff Blackford said they raised the wage based on supply and demand, they know that teachers are underpaid. NodawayHolt also gives a $2,000 training stipend to teachers in August, which is not included in the base pay. This money goes into retirement.

Blackford said he feels teachers have been devalued over the past few years, and this is still a low wage for teachers considering all the certifications and schooling they go through. He said the board is doing everything it can to make teachers feel more valued.

“For Nodaway-Holt specifically, we always try to find ways we can retain quali-