School board, teachers reach agreement
Board ratifies master contract
By Bobbi Mlynar
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
The Emporia board of education on Wednesday approved a 4.2 percent increase in the salary package, including health benefits, for district teachers. The approval came on a 5-0 vote, with board members Homer Garza and Mary Helmer absent.
The contract adds $1,198 to teachers' base salaries and $209 to salaries of teachers holding master's and doctoral degrees, according to a contract summary provided by the district.
The district expects to receive about $1.9 million in additional funds during the second year of the school finance law, according to information from the district. The money will go to the general and supplemental general funds.
The district chose to spend the money on additional teaching positions, educational supports for students, anticipated increases in fixed costs and salary increases to help recruit and retain qualified staff.
The salary range for teachers who hold bachelor of science degrees begins at $33,438 for entry-level and ends at $42,013 for teachers. Teachers with BS degrees and no graduate hours reach the maximum salary at step 15, with no step increases through step 40.
The salary ranges for other certified staff, from entry level to step 40, in other categories are:
-- BS plus 15 graduate hours, $34,045 to $43,944
-- BS plus 40 graduate hours, $34,652 to $48,523
-- Master of science or BS plus 40 (grandfathered in), $37,125 to $57,666
-- MS plus 15 hours, $37,732 to $58,273
-- MS plus 35 hours or Specialist, $38,339 to $58,880
-- MS plus 50 hours or Specialist with 15 hours, $38,946 to $59,487
-- Doctorate, $41,419 to $61,960
Teachers who show proof of full certification in English as a Second Language will receive a $1,000 stipend annually, with an initial one-time bonus of $1,000.
The board also voted unanimously to award a 3.9 percent raise to Superintendent John Heim.
The administrative salary schedule reflects a 3.92 percent package increase for district and building administrators, which brings the base salary to $45,328.
The classified exempt salary schedule includes an average increase of 3.92 percent, to bring the base salary for department directors and other supervisory classified positions to $29,404. Changes in this category include eliminating QUEST coordinator positions and reflecting the change in responsibility for the director of maintenance, as approved this year by the school board.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance premiums dropped this year due to decreased use by district employees. The district next year will offer one option for employees, with "considerable enhancements" over a previous plan.
The cost of an individual premium will remain at $360, and the district will pay an additional $14 per month -- to $349 per month -- toward the cost. The monthly cost of health insurance for a certified employee will decrease to $11 per month.
The district will allow $2.01 per hour for each classified employee to cover the district's share of individual health insurance.
The cost of employee/child coverage dropped from $539 to $505; employee/spouse coverage from $642 to $605; and employee/dependents from $732 to $705. Maximum coverage increase from $2 million to $5 million.
The policy has a 50/50 co-pay for out-of-pocket expenses up to $1,500 for an individual, and $3,000 for out-of-pocket coverage for two or more family members. The district also will maintain the $40 mail-order drug co-pay for 90-day supplies.
The Interest-Based Bargaining group recommended that beginning next year, each certified employee (half-time or more) will have an Employer Paid Deferred Benefit 403(b) account. The district will contribute $85 per month to the account per participant, with full vesting for employee at 15 years.
At retirement, current employees, as of the 2006-07 school year, will be eligible for the Voluntary Early Retirement option or the Deferred Benefit option.
The district is developing a similar system for classified employees, according to a synopsis of the contract.
Emporia National Education Association members of the IBB group are: Nancy Gilpin, Rick Eckert, Ann North, Nancy Lawson, Shelly Lutes, Nancy Robohn, Joy Haegert, Katie Adams and Jill Jones.
The school district IBB representatives are: Susan Hernandez, John Heim, Theresa Davidson, George Abel, Elizabeth McCoy, Mary Helmer, Steve Turner, Steve Ternes and Jared Giffin.
Read about the board business in Thursday's Gazette.
msw2003 (anonymous) says...
Its a wonder anyone teaches anymore with a benefit package that charges $705/month for family health care coverage. That is not health care coverage!!! Its no wonder so many teachers leave the profession of teaching. Low pay and terrible benefits. I wait for the day when the profession of teaching is seen as great value and teachers a compensated accordingly! For those of you who do teach I thank you! It appears financially to be a huge sacrafice.
June 14, 2007 at 1:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
Not to mention all the out-of-pocket expenses that teachers have due to lack of resources.
M
June 14, 2007 at 2:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
I thilnk all teachers deserve a really nice benefit package and even better. What teachers put up with today, they all deserve gold crowns and then some. I want to thank all teachers for what they do each and every day. I could not even begin to pay the premiums and I have a good job. I do not blame people for not going into the teaching enviroment. It seems like today that the only profession that comes out ahead is to be an attorney or politician.
June 14, 2007 at 4:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
Teachers do get too little in compensation.
As for the health insurance I couldn't tell whether the premium was monthly or yearly. If it was yearly it wouldn't be too unreasonable, about $70 per month. If it was monthly it is clearly exorbitant. The other problem was the co-pays and out of pocket expenses.
June 14, 2007 at 4:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DeniseDorcey (anonymous) says...
It's $705 per month. Dave, you forgot to mention the insurance industry and lobbyists come out ahead, too!
June 14, 2007 at 10:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
I believe what the teachers pay for insurance is a big rip off. I would like very much to see their benefit package. I do not understand how they can expect anyone to pay such high premiums when there is a national teachers organization. Where are their unions to stop such highway robbery? I would not blame any teacher for going on strike and maybe that is what it takes. I do not understand why they do not have a benefit package for all teachers in the state which would lower their program. The more people you have on a group plan, the cheaper it should be. We expect the best out of teachers but when we abuse them with such punishment as their insurance< I do not blame them if they all walked off. They (government) have taken discipline away from the teachers so why fight it when they can go into other fields and make more money and better benefits.
June 15, 2007 at 8:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mythoughts (anonymous) says...
The University professors don't have to pay out that much a month - why aren't the teachers on the same plan? I think they should have free health insurance considering everything they do (and put up with). If people would have listened to the Clintons back in the 90's.....
June 15, 2007 at 11:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
Pretty good gig for 1/2 year of work
June 15, 2007 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )