Fort Wayne Schools Approve 1% Teacher Raise

The Fort Wayne Community Schools board approved a 1% salary increase and $500 stipend for teachers and staff, adding to annual step increases.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Administration

Isometric editorial illustration of four rising brass coins beside a brass school bell on a flat cream plinth, in muted oxblood, mustard, and slate tones. — The Fort Wayne Community Schools board approved a 1% salary increase and a $500 stipend for teachers and staff on Tuesday, adding to annual step increases. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Fort Wayne Community Schools board approved a 1% salary increase for teachers and staff, along with a $500 stipend. The raises were approved through a memorandum of understanding to the master contract approved last fall.

Why it matters

The raises come as the district has made difficult budget decisions over the past two years, including cutting about 20 central office positions and closing South Wayne Elementary School. The new starting teacher base salary is $50,500, compared with $48,273 at East Allen County Schools and $47,750 at Northwest Allen County Schools.

The board approved a 1% increase on top of annual step increases, bringing the average increase to 3% for eligible educators. The new $50,500 starting base salary compares with $48,273 at East Allen County Schools and $47,750 at Northwest Allen County Schools.

The players

Fort Wayne Community Schools

The public school district serving Fort Wayne, Indiana, which governs the teacher pay and contract decisions discussed in the story.

Fort Wayne Education Association

The union representing Fort Wayne Community Schools teachers, which agreed to a two-year contract allowing mid-year salary talks.

The details

The board also approved four-year contracts with the Fort Wayne Classified Association and Fort Wayne Nurses Association, and a one-year contract with Teamsters Local Union 414, which represents bus drivers. The two-year agreement with the Fort Wayne Education Association allowed salary negotiations this school year if both sides agreed.

Spring 2025: About 20 central office staff positions were cut.
End of last academic year: South Wayne Elementary School closed.
Last fall: The master contract was approved by the board.
November 9, 2026: The board approved the 1% raises and stipends.

Season Trajectory

The $50,500 starting salary places Fort Wayne Community Schools above East Allen County Schools at $48,273 and Northwest Allen County Schools at $47,750, while Southwest Allen County Schools is poised to ratify a one-year contract with a $50,000 starting salary. The gap among Allen County districts' starting pay is now narrower than the raw figures suggest.

Teachers and staff in Fort Wayne Community Schools will see a 1% raise and $500 stipend on top of annual step increases. Families should expect the district's budget decisions to continue shaping staffing levels and school operations in the coming years.

The takeaway

Pay competition among neighboring districts can shift quickly, so teachers comparing offers should look closely at starting base salaries, stipends and contract length. Districts facing tight budgets can still find room for modest raises when they prioritize workforce retention.