Tecumseh teachers not happy with bargaining process for salaries

By DEB WUETHRICH

During public comment at Monday night’s Tecumseh School Board meeting, Tecumseh Education Association (TEA) representative Lori Spotts read a statement expressing the membership’s frustration with lack of progress at the bargaining table. Spotts pointed out that the teachers had only one issue — the salary schedule. The teachers are in the middle of a 3-year contract that expires in July of 2009, but can re-open salary discussions this school year and the next one.

The statement noted, “There are numerous facts we would like the Board to be aware of, as we are continually asked and required to do more and receive less.” The following points were provided:

• A beginning Tecumseh teacher is making less than a hundred dollars annually more than they did in the 2003-2004 school year. Currently, a starting Tecumseh teacher’s annual salary ranks second to the lowest for Lenawee County Public Schools.
• The Tecumseh Education Association membership initiated and approved a reduction in health care benefits in 2006, taking a reduced plan, along with a higher co-pay for the prescription drug card.
• Recent Board cuts in student funding, has resulted in additional out of pocket expenses for teachers and parents.
Spotts concluded, “With these points in mind, as professionals, we will continue to do what is in the best interest of our Tecumseh students. However, we will now begin working to the contract language only.”

Board member Matt Oren responded by pointing out that there were things beyond the district’s control, including contractual step adjustments in teacher salaries, resulting in an estimated $236,000 expenditure alone, and increased costs for health and retirement benefits. Salaries and benefits make up approximately 82 percent of the district’s budget.
“We have no control over these things so there is more money going out than we have coming in,” Oren said. He said that there are few employees in the private sector that receive guaranteed step raises and many must pay large co-pays or out-of-pocket health costs. He said his comments had nothing to do with his feelings toward teachers, because he believes the district has some excellent teachers. “My comments are directed toward letting them know that when money is available, we’re happy to give some to them. But it’s not available and we can’t give them what we don’t have. What we’re dealing with is the reality of trying to find ways that won’t affect kids with less and less money,” Oren said.

  Another matter of finance weighed heavily on the board at Monday night’s meeting: the failure of the school bond proposals.

“We have some major issues facing us now with expenditures because we have got some facility things we’re going to have to do because of safety issues that will now have to come directly out of the general fund at some point,” said Interim Business Manager, Bill Wright during discussion about the district’s budget status. “We were unfortunate that the bond did not pass last Tuesday, so now we have to go ahead and take some additional funding from the general fund. We are currently in the process of quantifying and prioritizing those projects,” he said.

Debbie Johnson-Burges also discussed some of those immediate needs in reporting for the Facilities and Grounds committee. She stated that the $320,095 in the capital projects funds would not go very far. The committee already is looking at a boiler replacement at Tecumseh Middle School that must be done this summer at a cost of around $194,000, and a repair for a leaking water line, also at the Middle School, for $83,000. A fuse box at Sutton also is in need of repair as it has been causing problems and power outages, and that will cost $25,000. “We’re working on getting an evaluation from a safety engineer for the pool roof,” Johnson-Berges said. “That alone will cost $636,000, so the capital improvement funds are not enough.”

Board Vice-President Dan Gunder, who currently is presiding at meetings, expressed the board’s obvious disappointment in the bond’s outcome. “As always we will do the best we can to work to make sure the academics are untouchable, but don’t be surprised if there are some major changes given the amount of money we have and the major repairs needed.” He also invited citizens not to hesitate in getting in touch with the board with their ideas, acknowledging that a grassroots effort and wider effort to inform the public on the issues might be what it would take to get a future bond proposal through. “We care as a board and want to see our kids get a well-rounded education as well as be involved in extracurricular activities, which, unfortunately, can be among the first things to go,” he said. “I think maybe we learned a couple things and the next go round will be better because of it.”

In other board business:
• Welcomed write-in candidate Jason Sines to the board, who was sworn in at Monday’s meeting.
• Approved a partnership agreement with Siena Heights University after Frank J. Hribar, Vice President for Enrollment Management, outlined a plan that would bring scholarship incentives for Tecumseh students, as well as staff and teachers, including a guaranteed $5,000 financial aid incentive, which takes effect immediately. The agreement is designed to help keep a pool of competent students in the area following graduation.
• Conducted a first reading on a Food Allergy Policy.
• Heard a report from Tecumseh High School Principal Bob Scheick on the district’s decision that 60 percent would comprise the passing score for students in light of the new Michigan Merit curriculum. “We had to come up with what we will accept as fair as a bottom line score for achievement of a high school diploma,” said Scheick. Some students will be opting for a Personalized Curriculum, which district officials are still working to hammer out. “The difficulty we’re going to have is if a student has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and doesn’t do the work, and it’s not 60 percent standardized work, he or she cannot get a diploma,” Superintendent Mike McAran said. These students would receive a certificate instead.
• Learned that district officials have revisited administrative regulations for the viewing of films. McAran said proposed films are supposed to be approved prior to viewing, with plans submitted as to how it fits with the lesson plans.