Well, it looks like we finally have a settled contract. The outline for successful negotiations is to the left. It works so well, especially during the summer sessions. We were able to institute the three tier drug plan which will save the district thousand of dollars a years, even though it will cost some teachers more money who are on maintenance drugs with no generic. We are also able to spread out the retroactive pay over a long period of time by claiming that it's too complicated to do all at once, so we have to do it year by year and only give the teacher a little bit at one time. That should allow significant interest payments to accrue in our account at the bank which is windfall money to the school district. Class sizes are at a maximum for intermediate and middle schools. Hopefully no one will move into the district. Lots of special ed needs this years which are peppered throughout all of the class rooms. That way all teachers share the load equally and we don't have to hire any additional teachers or aides. Lastly, I would like to thank the school board for my very generous 6% raise. When you do a good job and save lots of money, you are rewarded.
4 comments:
I can't believe what I'm reading. It's exactly how it happened this summer. An arbitration meeting was held. Some admin people said they were in agreement. At the next meeting it was like nothing had happened earlier.
From "The Esprit":
"The new school year is off and running with a somewhat different gait than last year. Our superintendent proved that he is worth every penny of his 6% salary increase. He managed to keep Association members away from the school board president on opening day! However, the warm, fuzzy feeling was quickly eroded by the first paycheck. The business manager, preoccupied with his penchant for increasing reserve funds, failed to notify teachers of changes in the withholding taxes. He overlooked the possibility that teachers in our district may not have bloated funds in reserve. But most do not have time to notice bouncing checks because they are busy slaving to a new computerized grading system guaranteed to lengthen the work day and cause carpal tunnel problems or death by email!" Truer words were never spoken. I hope Mr. DeFelice survived the chastising about his editorial, and I hope to read many more.
Why do the teachers have to settle for 4% raises yet the school board give Mr. Ford a 6% raise. Something wrong with this picture?????
I have heard that they are close to finishing the actual writing of the contract. Maybe we'll actually be able to vote on it before 2008. Personally, I think we should really consider what we have lost during these years without a contract. Only the teachers have been hurt. The "admin" people have all been receiving their raises every year.
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