Goodrich- On Wednesday a closed session meeting to discuss the grievances between the school union and a committee of the school board including Michael Tripp, Michael Thorp and James Bertrand was conducted.
The Michigan Education Association had placed district teachers on the critical list as a result of the school board imposing a 14-day cut to the school calendar in September. The cut also represents a significant loss of student time on task, and results in a 7-percent pay cut for teachers, according to Michigan Education Association officials.
Unfair labor practice charges were filed on behalf of the 102 members in the local.
Dianne Bregenzer, from the Michigan Education Association along with some teachers attended the closed meeting.
‘We presented the grievances to board regarding cutting the 14 days and a 7 percent pay cut,? she said. Only the board can say but I think this will go to arbitration.?
From the meeting a recomendation will be offered at the special school board meeting on Nov. 7.
‘We gave the board two remiedies one is to put the days back and let them teach to the kids, it’s important. The money is not the issue our teachers would rather be teaching. Goodrich schools will remain on the critical list until this is resolved. The full contract expires this summer we start bargaining in February.?
According to the MEA, units are put on critical list when efforts to reach a contract stall or when bargaining has been protracted and unproductive. The school district employees feel they need assistance from the community and MEA to reach a fair and equitable contract settlement. In addition to developing appropriate crisis action plans in preparation for a possible job action, members in critical units will step up efforts to inform the community about negotiations with appropriate activities necessary to achieve a contract.
The calendar issue stems from a six-to-one vote in August when the school board Ok’d a 184-day calendar year proposed earlier this year. Students now attend school 181 days less five professional days required for teachers by law say school officials.
Board trustee Tim Zirnhelt voted no.
The change from the current 198-day calendar which sparked the ire of teachers and some parents over the past months is necessary says Goodrich Superintendent Kim Hart, to balance a rather hefty $991,655 budget shortfall reported earlier this year.
On April 13, to rectify the shortfall, the board of education presented a proposal to the Goodrich Education Association, promising no layoffs of certified teachers if teachers agree to work 14 fewer days next year. The news followed the April 7 meeting between school administrators and teachers, in which about 40 teachers received pink slips. On April 24 the board voted six to one to finalize the layoffs.
Since than teachers were called back and union and school bargaining representatives met with a mediator in July regarding the disputed length of the 2005-06 calendar year.
Following the board decision regarding the calendar, Hart says teachers will lose an average of 1.7 percent of their pay, with 73 of approximately 105 teachers losing 2.12 percent. Teachers with more than 10 years will lose about 6 percent due to the change says Hart.
Bregenzer, says the reduction in pay is much greater at 7 percent.
The severity of the shortfall will hinge in part on lawmakers promise to school districts of a $175 per student funding increase Ok’d in September. Hart says the district is still expecting only a $125 per student funding.