(LAGRANGE) – A new collective bargaining agreement has been approved by the Lakeland Board of Education.

During Monday's meeting the Lakeland School Board unanimously approved the CBA as presented by the Lakeland Education Association, and Co-Presidents Rachel Stroop and Sherry Severson. Stroop addressed the Board and said these negotiations went very well. ...... {LISTEN}.

Severson pointed out to the Board that this CBA calls for increasing wages for Lakeland teachers, and it was done without asking for more money from the local residents or the State. ...... {LISTEN}.

Some of the highlights of this CBA include increasing the top of the pay scale from $71,000 to $75,000. The salary schedule will start at $40,000 for new teachers and it also calls for adding $3202 to the base of teachers rated either effective or highly effective who taught in the Lakeland School Corporation in the 2020-21 school year.