The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Teachers agree on new contract
Teachers to receive a 2.75 percent pay raise next school year
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 17, 2007
After only two negotiating sessions characterized as "cordial and cooperative," the Milan School District last week inked a three-year contract with its teachers.
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Teachers will receive a 2.75 percent pay raise next year and could see hikes of 2.75 percent the following year and 2.5 percent in the final year of the contract, depending on retirement numbers.
The contract's base pay raise for each of the three years was 1.5 percent, 1 percent and 0.75 percent, respectively, but administrators agreed to an additional 1.25 percent increase for each year in exchange for teachers switching their health care coverage from a traditional Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan to a Community Blue PPO.
The shift in health care coverage is expected to save the district more than $550,000 over the life of the contract, said Superintendent Dennis McComb, who said it was proper the district share the savings with its teachers.
"Our teachers historically have done more with less," McComb said. "They sacrificed before and got us through a real challenging time. We've got a group of people that we need to let know how much we appreciate what they've done."
In the previous contract, Milan teachers accepted a pay freeze one year and reduced increases in the other years.
McComb said the Milan Teachers' Association worked hard to help find the district savings, including proposing a retirement program that could save the district another $400,000 over the next three years. Administrators agreed to give teachers an additional 0.5 percent pay increase the final two years of the contract if a minimum of five teachers retire in 2008-09 and a minimum of ten retire in 2009-10.
In total, the contract saves the district close to $1 million, paying back around $680,000 in salary increases to its 150 teachers.
"The (school board) is proud of its teaching staff," McComb said, "and feels that the raises given are appropriate appreciation for the sacrifices they made in previous contracts and a recognition of their efforts to help the district reduce costs."
McComb described the working relationship between administrators and MTA representatives as unique.
"I think it's extremely important that the teachers and administrators have established a relationship of mutual trust and respect," he said. "When we say things across the table, they listen to what we say and we listen to what they say. I think it has helped significantly over the years."
The number of student days in the school year will remain at 181, which is higher than most surrounding school districts, although the issue was discussed during negotiations, McComb said.
"We don't think (fewer days) is educationally sound for kids," McComb said. "We want the kids to be here as much as allowed."
McComb said it benefited the district, teachers and students to have a contract in place before the end of the school year.
"I think it's good for the district, good for the community and makes everything run smoother," he said. "It's a great feeling for a school district."
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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