Talks hit an impasse; Salaries still the primary sticking point in negotiations

Thursday, May 31, 2012
More than 20 USD 234 teachers listen to contract negotiations for the 2012-2013 school year Wednesday morning in the Board of Education meeting room. (Angelique McNaughton/Tribune)

Wearing makeshift white and blue paper buttons on their shoulders with the slogan "Teachers want what's right ... Not what's left," more than 20 instructors filled the tiny USD 234 Board of Education room Wednesday morning, actively listening to the discussions regarding their salary and insurance benefits for the upcoming school year.

The three-year salary freeze and lack of movement within the district's teacher salary schedule remained the main points of contention during an open session of teacher contract negotiations for the 2012-2013 school year.

After meeting for a third time this month, negotiations came to a standstill when representatives from the Fort Scott National Education Association could not reach an agreement with USD 234 district officials.

Members of Fort Scott KNEA were originally seeking a 2 percent salary increase in addition to all four cost steps for everyone in the district from the last three years.

About 33 percent of teachers have been considered "stuck" and are unable to receive salary hikes associated with their years of experience. The district has offered bonuses throughout that time in an attempt to offset decreased funding for raises. KNEA's salary and step proposal would cost the district $427, 209.

School board President and district lead negotiator Janet Braun laid out the district's three salary proposals for KNEA representatives to consider. The proposals included a flat 2 percent salary increase and the forfeiture of the money acquired from the state legislature's proposed $58 increase in base state aid per pupil for raises, but no step movement.

"We tried to make it clear and that by doing it this way it would let you know where we can go and what the board wants us to do," Braun said. "The board is concerned about trying to do something and I don't know which would have the most appeal. But we're willing to try and come up with some options that would be good for everybody, and essentially everybody would get something."

After more than 30 minutes of discussion, the teacher's union rejected the district's salary and insurance proposals.

"The one thing we said up front is we need the steps, and steps as in multiple," Fort Scott High School social science teacher and KNEA lead negotiator Roberta Lewis said. "We feel that we're being stepped on because we've been loyal to the district and we're not getting what we deserve."

" ... I understand their point of view, but we feel like as professionals we've taken it on the chin for three years," she said after the meeting. "We've been given a directive to say enough is enough."

Lewis added that KNEA members are still requesting the district double insurance assistance benefits from $20 to $40, which would reportedly cost about $75,000.

KNEA Director Sheila Harte-Dmitriev said she was taken aback by the dire financial standing of district teachers.

"I know things have been tough and the state has cut back on funding, but it seems like today I realized for the first time how bad off they (the teachers) are," Harte-Dmitriev said. "The teachers not only have ... not been able to advance and move the steps, they haven't had anything put on that (salary schedule) since 2008, and for me that's not acceptable."

They're asking for the minimum of what they should get, she said.

"The whole gloom and doom with the state, you've got to do business as usual," she said. "... In my opinion, we need to put that off to the side and kind of move forward. It's getting to the point where they're not going to take much more."

Harte-Dmitriev said she thinks the teachers have been upset for a while, but it's "really coming out at this point."

With no guarantees for the coming school year and the grim outlook for education funding, those in attendance for the talks began considering other ways to raise funds to increase teacher pay. One person asked the district consider increasing the local option budget and another suggested raising the mill levy.

KNEA members said if the mill levy isn't raised, Fort Scott Community College will take that step and that's where most of their tax money goes.

It all boils down to respect for the position and loyalty of districts faculty, members said.

Teachers said they want credit, not just a thank you. And it's not that teachers don't appreciate the bonus they received last year, but at some point, one KNEA member said, you have to "put your money where your mouth is. ... It's about choices and we have to start making choices."

By the end of the meeting, nothing was negotiated on salary and insurance, but there was some common ground.

Both parties agreed on an early retirement plan consisting of forming a five to nine member committee to discuss building a matching 403 (b) plan for the district.

Bargaining for language of the evaluation document was dropped and KNEA members agreed to put aside their request to alter teacher hours and amount of work.

As a compromise, the board proposed to change the language used for leave to discretionary leave.

"When we start talking about money, that's the toughest part of negotiations," Braun said. "But I was happy there was some headway (made) on some points."

The next negotiation meeting will be at 9 a.m. June 15 and the next regularly scheduled USD 234 board meeting is June 11.