Teachers in Madison are going to get a 7.8 percent average pay and benefits raise in the next school year.  The starting salary of $30,500 for beginning teachers will be an increase of $3,500.  Madison School Board President Mark Hawkes says the healthy pay increase is part of a a recent trend by South Dakota school systems to significantly increase the salaries of teachers.

Hawkes says the Madison pay raises are necessary so it can stay competitive for qualified teachers with other school districts.  Teachers in South Dakota have been the lowest paid in the nation for many years.