Board to vote on teachers' contract Monday
Wednesday, October 8, 2008 2:25 PM
By CANDY BROOKS

ThisWeek Staff Writer
The Worthington Board of Education is scheduled to vote next Monday on a three-year labor contract with district teachers.

The contract granting a 2.85-percent increase in the salary schedule for each of the three years was ratified by the Worthington Education Association (WEA) Sept. 29.

"The contract was well supported," WEA president Pete Scully said on Tuesday. Eighty percent of the 778 members voted on the contract, and more than 50 percent approved, he said. He would not reveal the exact vote.

Teachers have been working without a contract since Aug. 31. Negotiations between the teachers' union and board representatives began July 31.

Besides a salary and benefits package that includes increases in deductible and premium costs for teachers, the contract also addresses issues such as teacher involvement in school changes and support for teachers who have been involuntarily reassigned.

The 2.85-percent increase is to the basic salary schedule and does not represent actual salary increases, which are generally higher than 2.85 percent and can range up to 13.9 percent.

The base salary for a teacher with a bachelor's degree and no experience will go from $36,879 in 2007 to $37,930 in 2008. A teacher making the base in 2007 gained one year of experience by 2008, and that salary would increase to $39,523, for a 7.16 percent increase.

If that same teacher attains 15 hours of college credit during his or her first year of teaching, the salary would increase to $42,001. That is a 13.9 percent increase.

A teacher with a bachelor's degree and 10 years experience last year made $36,879. With no step increase for additional training, the salary this year would be $62,308 -- a 10.7 percent increase.

Salary increases rates tend to decrease as a teacher gains experience. A teacher with a bachelor's degree only and 25 years experience earned $64,625 last year and would earn $67,132 this year. That is a 3.9 percent increase.

Under the new contract, deductibles would increase from $1,100 to $1,500 annually for a single teacher and from $2,200 to $3,000 for a family.

Singles will pay 10 percent of premiums this year, with the district picking up the rest. The percentage is to increase 2 percent for teachers in 2010.

Last year, the cost to a single teacher was $30 a month, and $75 for a family. Under the new contract, the single cost this year will be $44, the cost for a family $119.

The new wording of the contract was released to the media Tuesday. Superintendent Melissa Conrath, assistant superintendent Paul Cynkar and treasurer Jeff McCuen were out of town on Tuesday, and public information officer Vicki Gnezda was not available for comment.

The cost of the new contract to the district will probably be discussed at Monday's board meeting.

Some of the contract provisions not related to salary and benefits include:

• An assurance that teachers have a voice in the school-wide planning process known as 21st Century Renewal. A plan must be approved by no less than two-thirds of staff members.

• The rights of high school teachers to teach a sixth period (only five are required) and be paid an additional $5,000 a year.

• An allowance of 15.5 hours of release time for teachers who write Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for students with special needs. Support and training of such teachers are also addressed.

• The rights of a teacher who has been involuntarily transferred to meet with the director of human resources, association president and building administrators to discuss a plan and resources.

• The ability of the school board to offer a one-time monetary incentive to attract qualified candidates in hard-to-fill positions.

• The establishment of a technology committee to support "innovative and creative technology." The board will allocate $80,000 to the committee.