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Wichita Teachers Say Yes To New Contract

Sean Sandefur
/
KMUW/File photo
UTW President Steve Wentz speaks at a press conference.

Wichita teachers voted to approve a proposed contract last night.

The proposal includes a salary increase of just under 4 percent. It also gives some teachers raises to make up for what they missed from some previous pay freezes. The school calendar is also returning to its previous 190-day length, with each of those days 30 minutes shorter.

About 70 percent of teachers who voted said "yes" to the proposed contract, according to United Teachers of Wichita President Steve Wentz. He says he's breathing a sigh of relief after the vote, but he's not relaxing just yet.

"You know, it's a small victory in a much larger battle," Wentz says.

He also says that battle hasn't changed.

"We have got to get this state to adequately, equitably fund education," Wentz says.

Wichita's Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Friday to vote on the contract.

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Follow Stephan Bisaha on Twitter @SteveBisaha.

To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org.