Teachers at the Wasatch County School District are in for a 5% raise, according to the 2025 fiscal year budget the Board of Education approved this month.

New teachers with a bachelor’s degree will make about $65,850. Teachers with master’s degrees and 30 additional credits who have been at the district for 30 years — the highest position represented on the pay schedule — will make around $109,363.

For teachers in Wasatch County who have felt the strain of expensive housing and other rising costs, the increase can be significant. 

During the meeting, members of the public had an opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns about the district’s fiscal decisions, and several teachers took the opportunity to thank board members for increasing their pay.

“I’m a teacher, but I’m also tonight representing a large bulk of teachers in our district through the Wasatch Education Association,” Midway Elementary teacher Jena Horrocks said. “We had an amazing meeting with the board, with negotiations. We sent out a survey to teachers and we left an open response box, which isn’t something we typically do. We got over a hundred comments of support for the school board.”

She shared several of the comments of unnamed teachers who stated their respect and appreciation for the board.

Wasatch High School Assistant Principal Ryan Bishop echoed Horrocks’ comments. 

“The morale in the school district is incredible because of what you have committed to do for our educators here in the valley. Just from a high school perspective, our hiring pools have opened up tremendously,” Bishop said. “People want to live here, but more importantly, people want to work here for our school district.” 

Denise Marshall, who teaches at Midway Elementary and has been in the district for almost 20 years, recalled a time when raises weren’t a regularity for teachers.

“I never thought that I would be making the amount of money that I’m going to be able to look forward to,” she said. “I appreciate your awareness and understanding of our economy.”

Board members also heard from parents, including Breanne Dedrickson, who is running for a spot on the Board of Education.

“I’d like to say thank you,” she said. “My kids have exceptional teachers and have had such a positive educational experience in this district, and I believe that’s because we are taking care of teachers and we’re attracting the best of the best.”

Mike Johnston, a Heber City councilor who’s raised three kids who have attended Wasatch County schools, said his kids had a phenomenal educational experience.

“This school district is one of the reasons I think your body and the Heber City Council struggle with growth. It’s such a wonderful palace to live and people want to be here,” Johnston said. “We are here for collaboration with you on school sites. We’re here to collaborate on affordable housing solutions That’s a huge concern of ours that our staff and your staff can afford to purchase a home, not just rent. … We support you and we support this and I see that it’s fiscally sound.” 

The overall budgetary plan amounts to the district preparing to spend $227,711,332 while planning to collect an expected $163,456,444 in revenue.

District Business Administrator Jason Watt said the difference between the two numbers is due to construction of the new high school. In 2023, the district took out about $150 million in bonds for the new facility.