Jay teachers OK contract (07/07/06)

With fewer than half its members casting a ballot, the Jay Classroom Teachers Association approved a new two-year contract Thursday afternoon.

The vote approving the contract by a 67-40 margin came one day after the contract was approved 6-1 by the Jay School Board.

There are 220 members of the JCTA; 34 percent of the membership is required to vote to constitute a quorum.

The contract calls for no pay raise for teachers in the 2006-07 school year, and a 2 percent raise for 2007-08. In exchange, seven new teaching positions will be added for 2006-2007. There is no guarantee those positions will be continued in 2007-2008.

JCTA president Doug Tipton said this morning, “We felt we had to do what was best for the kids in this case.”

The contract 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.

It also establishes a health insurance subcommittee involving teachers to examine ways to control costs and maintain benefits.

Tipton also said he was unhappy that new school board president Bryan Alexander had voted against approving the contract at a midday meeting Wednesday.

Alexander voted against the contract because consolidation of some extra-curricular activities positions will lead to a net reduction in pay for the varsity basketball coach.

Tipton said this morning that many JCTA members are currently out of town on vacation, affecting the overall turnout for the contract vote.[[In-content Ad]]