NewsOverCoffee: Nazareth News: School District Press Release Includes Rejected Offer

Friday, September 22, 2006

School District Press Release Includes Rejected Offer

The district just posted the press announcement regarding the contract negotiations (read it here).

Here is part everyone has been wondering about:

The union rejected this request.

With nowhere to go and the strike deadline looming, the Board gave the union a Final Offer. The Board presented salary schedules which reflect the following increases:

2006-2007 4.64%

2007-2008 4.62%

2008-2009 4.33%

2009-2010 4.56%

2010-2011 4.31%

By the end of the contract, the maximum salary will go to $83,114 on the schedule and will, as a result of a longevity payment increase the maximum salary to $88,524 for the teachers at the top of the schedule. The Board’s salary offer also reduces the number of steps in the salary schedule and adds two columns so that teachers with advanced credits can get additional raises.

The Board is also seeking modest increases in employee premium contributions toward health insurance as follows:

2006-2007 1.5% of each teacher’s salary

2007-2008 1.75% of each teacher’s salary

2008-2009 2% of each teacher’s salary

2009-2010 2% of each teacher’s salary

2010-2011 2% of each teacher’s salary

Based on the average salary for each year generated by the Board’s offer, the amount of contribution will be as follows:

2006-2007 $822 for the year

2007-2008 $1003 for the year

2008-2009 $1196 for the year

2009-2010 $1251 for the year

2010-2011 $1305 for the year

Currently teachers pay on average $572 a year toward health insurance and the District pays approximately $8100 annually per teacher for medical insurance.

This was the offer that was rejected. The pay raise is above 3% which many would consider the norm in recent years for any annual increase. The medical contribution is roughly a $250 dollar increase in the first year, but by year five it becomes a $733 increase.

I'm sure the union will present its position in the near future, but in the meantime I would have to imagine the medical contribution is the primary issue.

So what do you think? We probably need the union's side to be fair, but in the absence of that at this time - is it a fair offer? Whether you agree or not - why do you think so?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...: I haven't seen what the NAEA wants, but at first glance this seems pretty fair. Yes, the health care premiums are a jump in year five, but that's year five! That jump might seem like a bargain in five years. Remember, that is still only $100/month. And I don't know the details, but last I heard co-pays were only $5. (Compare that to the coverage my Co. offers at $360/month with $30 co-pays).

Sentiment seems to be all over. At the bus stop this morning, a couple of people expressed the need to "just pay the teachers what they want"... "it's the one of the top rated districts". etc. etc.

Right now, I'm holding judgement until I hear what the NAEA wants/wanted, but this just seems like postponing the inevitable. I'm dissapointed.; 10:44 AM
Anonymous said...: Did some more number crunching (that's what I do, I'm an engineer).

Anyway, at first glance, the $1305 in year five seems like a lot, but realize that this is only 2% of salary. That means, that in year five, the average salary will be $65,250. Not too bad.; 10:51 AM
Anonymous said...: This will not sit well with self employed taxpayers who pay $1200 per month for family coverage when they are bitching about paying $1200 per year!; 11:18 AM
Anonymous said...: Could the hangups also be the two things not addressed here ... prep periods and curriculum meetings?; 11:20 AM
RossRN said...: The numbers here are a bit tough because as you point out it is a % of the salary and they are giving averages. There is almost too much information left out (what the benefits are, co-pays, deductibles, etc.)

Like you, I was paying about $380 a month with $10.00 and then $20.00 co-pays. This year my company did change its policy and my contribution is right around $300 ($150 per pay twice monthly).

Better for me, but it is still 3x higher than what the teachers will face five years from now. And as was pointed out its tough to feel that someone is getting a bad deal when you personally are paying triple what they are or more.

The other issue related to pay to keep in mind is that these are averages and the number of days worked and length of those days is also fixed by the contract and state. 180 days, and I believe 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. which includes lunch and the prep periods.

In these situations the discussion tends to be contained within the realm of teacher's salary and benefits in one district vs. those in another, while the taxpayers tend to compare the contract to their own situation.

There are a lot of variables and at first blush the contract offered seems fair, but as noted, we'll all need to hear the other side of the story before passing judgement.

Hopefully one of the teachers will read this and get something submitted to me at editor@newsovercoffee.com so it can be shared with everyone.

Until then, let's give both sides the benefit of the doubt and be glad they are going to school on Monday.

Thanks again! And don't forget homecoming is tonight!; 11:39 AM
Anonymous said...: Quoted today on wfmz.com :"According to the teachers' association, the dispute centers on healthcare, planning periods, and curriculum meetings." This is what I am wondering about?; 11:52 AM
Anonymous said...: I am sure prep periods and curriculum are sticking points, but someone tell me this...

How did the school day get so short?! (I'm not trying to show my age here), but I remember going to school before 8 and not being finished until around 3. Teachers today are asked to work 7:30 to 3:00 (7.5 hours). I know, I know, plenty of teachers stay and work after or take stuff home with them (so do I for that matter). But there are a few teachers who are not, shall we say... as motivated?; 12:00 PM
RossRN said...: I don't have any additional info right now, but it would seem based on the conversation regarding the elementary and specials that prep time is being lessened due to increased classroom or supervisory responsibilities.

In previous years I understood that the classroom teacher took students to computer lab, the computer teacher had them, not classroom, and now the teacher has them during that period in the lab.

This could be just one example on the elementary level.

Also, the block scheduling probably causes problems in regard to prep time. Pure speculation on my part, but I'm sure there are issues in that regard.

Length of day may also play in as the HS and MS starts before and ends after elementary meaning those teachers have much less time without students than elementary teachers do.

By listening and picking up pieces here and there it would seem there are many detailed issues that haven't come out yet.; 12:02 PM
RossRN said...: Regarding the school day, alot is based on the contract (how many hours per day teachers will work, prep time, lunch, etc) and the transportation schedule/contract.

The same set of buses carry both elementary and secondary. The elementary day is sandwiched between the secondary start and end with about a half hour buffer to pick-up and drop off students.

Secondary is something like 7:35 to 2:40, while elementary is 8:05 to 2:10.

The earliest bus stop pickup then for secondary is about 6:50 a.m., to go much earlier will result in students waiting for buses in the dark, which is obviously dangerous on any road.

Don't know if this answers the questions, but it does have some of the factors at play.; 12:07 PM