TPS board ratifies new teacher contract

At the Monday Tecumseh School Board meeting, the board approved the three-year Tecumseh Education Association (TEA) contract ratification. The previous contract expired on June 30. The new contract is different from what teacher’s previously had in the district. Teacher pay increases are now solely reliant upon teacher performance, with each receiving an individual wage base and additional income based on teacher education level. Previously, teachers would receive pay increases based on years of service and their own educational gains in continuing education and degrees earned. “We’re really happy to have a contract,” said Tecumseh Supt. Kelly Coffin. The district is required to annually evaluate teachers and give one of four ratings: ineffective, minimally effective, effective and highly effective. The school is using the Charlotte Danielson evaluation model, which will soon be approved by the state but is sitting in the legislature, according to Coffin. “It’s a huge shift,” the superintendent added. “I am proud of the teachers for that. It’s a shift in mindset. It’s not that they disagreed with it, it’s just different.“The association understands that there is some integrity in the process and that the way we do the evaluation is a fair process. I think that’s the key to jumping over to all performance based because if you don’t feel like the evaluation process has integrity, you are putting a lot of your eggs in one basket.” A goal of the board was to increase starting pay for new teachers, which was part of the TEA contract ratification. Starting pay for teachers with a bachelor degree was increased from $34,170 to $36,000. “We increased that a couple thousand dollars to stay competitive with what’s happening in the county,” Coffin said. “I think it is a great thing for the district. I am just very pleased with how it ended up.“On the previous pay schedule, teachers received a five percent pay increase. On the new performance based contract, teachers will, on average, earn a two to three percent pay increase. “It’s not going to save the district money,” added Coffin. “It’s an investment in our teachers. We do expect to dip into our fund equity.” Coffin continued saying that now that the district has a three-year contract, it can budget for payroll, which averages between 80-85 percent of the school’s $24.1 million budget. In terms of health care, Coffin said that the price the district pays did increase, though that doesn’t necessary mean teachers pay less. The district pay $5,857.58 for a single subscriber, $12,250 for two persons, and $15,975.23 for full family. For comparison, previously, the district had a hard cap for full family insurance at $15,000. The state does allow for cost-of-living increases.In the “Good News” portion of the meeting, the board heard Maura and Matt Raines about the Kids for Kids program they started in 2013 that helps students stay sharp over the summer. In 2014, 41 existing Tecumseh Public School first graders participated in the program. Of those 41, 71 percent tested the same or higher on the Fountas and Pinnell Reading Benchmark upon returning to school this fall, according to data provided by the Raines. Twenty-seven percent made gains over the summer. The non-profit organization is designed to help kids “Stay Sharp, Be Smart” over the summer.In other business, the board:• Accepted the fiscal year 2014 district audit• Heard about a request for a trip to Tennessee for the varsity and junior varsity softball teams