The Oxford Community Schools and Oxford Education Association have ratified the 2008-2011 Master Agreement.
The master agreement is the contarct between the district and teachers? union.
Ratified on Nov. 6, final approval from the school board’s side was given at its Nov. 10 meeting.
Officials say the teachers? approval level for the deal was ‘extremely high? at 95-96 percent.
OCS Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Nancy Kammer credited the ‘very good? relationship between teachers and the administration for why the approval rate was so high.
‘Teachers recognized the state of the economy, and they didn’t come in asking for any unreasonable demands,? she said, adding: ‘But we also recognized that they have concerns and needs.?
Teachers will receive a half percent increase in each year of the three-year agreement (2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11). Also, teachers who have worked in the district for between 10-15 (1.5 percent) years and 16 to more than 30 (one percent) years will receive an additional percentage. After a review of comparable wages throughout the county and surrounding areas, it was determined that veteran teachers needed more alignment in wages, Kammer said.
The approach used for the bargaining session, Kammer explained, was a unique one where there was no formal exchange of ‘demands? or requests. The two groups worked collaboratively with a complete contract review.
‘The school district and the teachers each found areas where they felt there should be clarification and some areas that needed adjustments,? Kammer said. However, every change that was made was based on what was in the best interests of the students.
Among the areas the school district addressed in the contract:
* Restructuring of elementary assignment language to provide more consistency for staff within buildings;
* Strengthening the performance appraisal process to require more observation opportunities;
* Clarifying the expectations of staff in the monitoring of student behavior.
* Providing professional development opportunities in case of excessive inclement weather days.
Among what the teacher union addressed:
* Agreeing the Oxford Education President may be released, if feasible, for collaborative work that would benefit the district;
* Clarifying staff meeting schedules;
* Providing professional development time for elementary teachers to meet district and state requirements;
* Conducting a comprehensive review of extra-curricular guidelines.
Kammer feels the contract will return both sides? focus to education.
‘With the challenges our schools face in regard to meeting the needs of the students and competing on a global basis, we can focus our attention on positive initiatives, rather than labor issues,? she said. ‘The district has a strategic plan requiring teachers, the district, and the community to work together to achieve the goals outlined. Labor harmony allows us to focus on the important issues.?
One significant area examined was health care’especially with escalating health care costs. A clause in the contract states if expenses rise substantially, there will be shared cost in health care between the administration and the teachers.
If health care costs exceed a seven-percent increase, teachers and the district will share the increase between seven and 12 percent in each year of the contract (the district will resume increased costs above 12 percent). The total shared maximum cost for teachers will be 2.5 percent of the health care premium. ‘I do feel it was a mutual agreement that went well,? Kammer said.
For taxpayers, adjusting the wage schedule will cost about $223,000. To offset wage increases, teachers agreed to an insurance package that will save the district approximately $144,000 per year.