Teachers to receive pay raise under new contract approved by TPS board

The Tecumseh Board of Education approved ratification of the TEA (Tecumseh Education Association) contract on its meeting on Sept. 23.Tecumseh Supt. Kelly Coffin said the one-year contract included no percentage raises. She said all teachers were given a step increase on schedule, which means they will receive a salary increase when they move up a step on the base salary scale. Teachers will also receive payment for higher education credits, noted Coffin. Those teachers who are not eligible for a step during the coming school year were to receive $1,300 off schedule. The board also approved a contract for instructional assistants, who received a step and a one percent increase on schedule, Coffin said on Tuesday.“With both groups, our district is very thankful for them and I know that they haven’t received increases over three years and the board recognizes that and appreciates everything they have given for the district,” Coffin said. “We’re very pleased with how the negotiations process went and recognize that it’s a compromise. The board truly appreciates everything they do for our kids.”During public comment, a citizen asked the status of finishing the baseball/softball fields at the high school, and Tritt said that the item had been removed from the evening’s agenda. “So you’re saying at this point you really don’t know what’s going to happen with this situation? Will we ever find out?” the man asked. “That’s going to be up to the budget process and our superintendent,” said Tritt.On Tuesday morning, Coffin said when the board last met, prior to Monday night’s meeting, there was a lot of discussion on what to do about a request that came to the board from Friends of Tecumseh Baseball and Softball to complete Phase I of the fields after fundraising efforts fell short.“The discussion included a question, which I think is justified, that this is a fundraising effort and should we just let the fundraising continue as we plan something into next year’s budget or not,” Coffin said. “Right now, that’s what’s being considered as it’s not in our budget this year.”The Friends, which had raised approximately $26,000 in donations and in-kind contributions, had asked for the district’s assistance in finishing the irrigation system for approximately $17,400, and then to help complete Phase 1 at an estimated $39,000.“The fundraising effort is certainly going to continue,” said Coffin. “The board is appreciative of the volunteers and what they have done, and I will work through the board committees and with the board and develop a budget for next year, and we’ll see if something might fit into that or not. It depends on fundraising efforts, and there have been generous donations of time and material from our community partners. There hasn’t yet been any money from the district used.”Coffin said the matter would be addressed like any other priority being considered in the budgeting process. “We’ll gather input and see where that falls in the process,” she said. “That doesn’t, in the meantime, hurt the progress at all as far as the fundraising. The request doesn’t stall that by any means.”In other business, the board members:• Hired Tecumseh Middle School Principal Greg Lewis as Tecumseh High School (THS) Athletic Director. Lewis will split his duties.• Accepted the appointment of THS Principal Griff Mills as varsity girls basketball coach.• Heard a presentation from THS French teachers on the 2013 THS Quebec trip• Approved the district’s 2013-14 calendar