Board approves teachers' contract

By CANDY BROOKS

ThisWeek Staff Writer

Published: October 16, 2008
Edition: Worthington
Section: News
Page: 01A



The Worthington Board of Education voted 4-1 to approve a three-year contract with district teachers on Monday. The Worthington Education Association, representing the district's 788 teachers, approved the contract Sept. 29.

Board member Marc Schare cast the only "no" vote on the contract, which increases the salary schedule by 2.85-percent each of the three years, but could mean up to double-digit salary increases for individual teachers.

The contract also saves up to $2-million a year in health benefits, with teachers taking on more of the cost of premiums and deductibles.

Teachers have been working without a contract since August, and have been negotiating a settlement since July.

School board president Jennifer Best called the salary increases "fair and appropriate," noting that the contract will have a positive effect on the district's five-year financial forecast.

Board member David Bressman said the contract was not perfect, but that when looking at the larger scheme of things, it represents a good return on the community's investment.

"We have shown the proper amount of respect for teachers and they have shown us respect," he said.

Schare said he had several issues with the contract, including sustainability and affordability. He said he was disappointed that there were no changes to the salary index, which grants teachers a higher percentage raise than is reflected in the 2.85-percent.

According to the index, raises include step increases and increases for attaining additional education, beyond the 2.85-percent increase.

"For those teachers who will not be stepped during the three years of this agreement, the 2.85 percent is obviously reasonable," he said. "For those that will be stepped in all three years of this agreement, the increase is, in some years, in excess of 7 percent and this is, in my view, excessive."

Resident Cal Taylor agreed, telling the board that the district cannot afford raises that in some cases are up to double-digit in a single year.

Pay raises tend to be higher for teachers with less experience, lesser for those who have been in the district for more than 14 years.

For example, a first-year teacher with a bachelor's degree only earned $36,879 in 2007. This year, without attaining additional education, that teacher will earn $39,523, for a 7.2 percent increase.

Attaining additional education can put a teacher's raise into a double-digit percentage.

In 2007, a teacher with 10 years' experience and a bachelor's degree plus 30 hours of education earned $60,412. If that teacher achieved 15 more credit hours to earn a master's degree, the 2008 salary would be $66,833. That is a 10.6 percent raise.

Former board member Gary Tyack said the raise was not enough.

"As I see it, it is less than the cost of living," he told the board.

Though the cost of health care did not increase as fast as was predicted last May, Schare said he is concerned about the district continuing to pay 86 percent to 90 percent of the cost of premiums and 60 percent to 70 percent employer contribution to deductibles.

The district is taking a huge risk offering health care that does not cap the taxpayers' liability, he said.

"What do we do if levies fail?" he asked. "What do we do if health care costs skyrocket again?"

cbrooks@thisweeknews.com




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