Morrisville Teachers Have New Contract

Morrisville teachers have new contract

Posted: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 11:08 pm

Morrisville teachers have new contractBy GEMA MARIA DUARTE Staff writerCalkins Media, Inc. | 0 comments

Posted on September 26, 2012       

by Gema Duarte

The Morrisville School District settled with the teachers union for a three-year contract that includes no salary increase the first year and union members will have to pitch in more toward their health care premiums.The school board voted 8-1 to approve the contract that will expire at the end of the 2014-2015 school year. School director David Stoneburner, who was the lone "no" vote, said he understands the Morrisville Education Association made many concessions because its members recognize the district's financial pinch. His issue is with the general aspect of giving salary increases — in any form — when the national economy is sluggish.

Under the new contract, union members will not initially receive a salary or percentage increase. However, come the second year they will get a "step or salary increase between 2 percent and 8 percent," according to officials. In addition, union members will get a 0.5 percent increase for experienced teachers on step 12, which is the district’s highest step, according to officials.
Then, during the 2014-15 school year, a delayed step increase is scheduled to take effect on the 15th pay of the school year and a .25 percent increase at the start of the school year, officials said.
“It just bothers me that in any way that people are given salary or benefit increases in these types of contracts when the rest of the people who have to pay for those aren’t getting (salary) increases (at their jobs)," Stoneburner said. "What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander. It’s not anything personal with our teachers, our teachers union or our administration. They all have done very well."
The 69 union members — including a psychologist, two guidance counselors and a school nurse — have been working without a contract since Aug. 31, when the previous six-year contract expired.
As for their health benefits, union members will contribute more than before. This school year, they will continue to contribute 10 percent toward the cost of the health care premium. However, each following year, they will contribute an additional 3 percent, totaling 16 percent at the contract’s end.
“The new contract is an example of cooperation between two groups of people with specific interests, but a common interest — continuing to offer a quality education to the student of Morrisville,” Superintendent Bill Ferrara.
“One thing that made this process a bit easier was, from the beginning, both sides were up front with their needs and their concerns,” Drew King, union president, said, adding that members voted in favor of the contract Tuesday, almost a week after the negotiating group came to a tentative agreement.
Under the previous contract, all new hires in the district would begin on step OA of the scale, unless the superintendent and the new hire agree on a different step because of the professional employee’s prior teaching experience, according to the contract. The OA means nothing specific, officials have said.
For the first year of the previous contract, a newly hired employee with a bachelor’s degree earned $40,784, and an employee with a master’s degree and 30 credits was paid $51,401 a year. Teachers with 12 or more years of experience and a bachelor’s degree earned $67,871 and those with a master’s degree and 30 credits earned $86,731.
As the contract ended, a first-year teacher with a bachelor’s degree earned $45,896. Teachers with a master’s degree and 30 credits earn $57,843. Teachers with 12 or more years of experience with a bachelor’s degree earned $76,378, while union members with a master’s degree and 30 credits received a salary of $97,602.