Three-year agreement reached with DCEA and Defiance BOE

A three-year agreement with the Defiance City Education Association (DCEA) was approved by Defiance City Board of Education on Wednesday. Superintendent Mike Struble recommended the approval of an agreement beginning with the 2017-18 school year. The agreement calls for a 3.5 percent raise for year two and a 3 percent raise for year three. In the first year, step 1 will effectively become step 0 representing the equivalent of a 4.9 percent increase on the base. Struble noted that this will increase pay, which in turn will help attract and retain good teachers, making Defiance City Schools competitive with area districts.