Board OKs new deal for teachers (07/06/06)

Jay County teachers will give up a pay increase next year in exchange for the addition of seven additional teachers in the coming school year under a tentative contract approved by the Jay School Board Wednesday.

The contract will be voted on by the Jay Classroom Teachers Association at a meeting today at 5 p.m.

The two-year contract effectively ends blended regular classes for the 2006-2007 school year, but there is no guarantee for the 2007-2008 school year. While teachers will forego a raise the first year of the contract, they will receive a 2 percent raise the second year if the contract is approved.

Board members and administrators were enthusiastic about the tentative agreement, praising the JCTA for its effort and innovation.

“I want to really brag on them,” said board member Mike Shannon.

“We’ve had very good, productive sessions,” said Jay Schools business manager Brad DeRome, who presented the contract for approval. “Speaking for the administration, it is a real positive to have a contract settled before the school year begins. Both sides worked very hard at the table to reach compromises on many issues.”

As outlined by DeRome for the board, the contract:

•Includes zero pay increase for teachers in 2006-2007 and a 2 percent increase for 2007-2008.

•Calls for the hiring of seven more teachers for the 2006-2007 school year and promises no blended regular classes, such as fourth and fifth grades combined, that year.

•Includes a 2 percent pay increase for extra-curricular activity assignments in the 2007-2008 school year, while changing, consolidating, and eliminating several extra-curricular assignments.

•Calls for new teachers to pay 15 percent of the single health plan for medical insurance or 20 percent for family coverage. Teachers already employed by the school corporation will continue to pay a flat $348 per year for single coverage and 20 percent for family coverage.

•Establishes a health insurance subcommittee involving teachers to examine ways to control costs and maintain benefits.

•Makes a number of clarifications and revisions in the areas of alternate career leave, sabbatical leave, the mileage rate, the sick bank, and the priority of staffing for kindergarten through third grade classes.

•Allows for the contract to be re-opened in connection with salary and insurance benefits.

Approval of the contract came on a 6-1 vote, with newly-elected board president Bryan Alexander in opposition.

While praising the contract in general, Alexander said he had to oppose it “on principle” because the changes in extra-curricular activities assignments will lead to a net decrease in pay for varsity basketball coach Craig Teagle.

“We have a basketball coach who went to the state tournament,” said Alexander. The prior schedule of extra-curricular activities positions called for five weight-lifting support assignments. Teagle has filled three of those, said Alexander. By eliminating the positions, the contract will have the net effect of reducing his annual pay by about $3,700.

Alexander was elected unanimously as the board’s new president, succeeding Doug Inman, who announced Wednesday that he will not be seeking re-election to the school board in November. Dr. Frank Vormohr was elected vice president, and Greg Wellman was elected board secretary.

In other organizational matters, the board:

•Re-appointed Phil Frantz as its attorney.

•Appointed DeRome as corporation secretary and Jane Carlin as deputy secretary. DeRome, Carlin, and Superintendent Barb Downing were designated to have access to the school corporation’s safety deposit box.

•Named Alexander as its legislative liaison to the Indiana School Boards Association.

•Accepted annual conflict of interest statements.

•Approved its meeting calendar for the balance of 2006.

•Named Alexander and Vormohr to the wellness committee, Mike Masters to the insurance committee, Shannon and Wellman to the negotiations committee, and Alexander to the 401 (a)/VEBA committee.[[In-content Ad]]