Negotiations Update - Movement in the Right DirectionAugust 13, 2008
After several hours of discussions back and forth
yesterday between the School Board and Association Leadership,
significant movement was made toward achieving a contract for the
2008-09 school year. The following joint statement reflects the
cooperative agreement reached among all parties.
Joint Statement Regarding Current Negotiations
Dr. Bill Vogel, Superintendent
Gay Parker, SEA President
Betty Bailey, SECA President
Craig Hopes, NIPSCO President
Ora Lee Alexander, School Bus Drivers’ President
On Tuesday, August 12, 2008 in a cooperative
approach, it was agreed between the School Board, SEA, SECA, NIPSCO
and the School Bus Drivers’ Association to temporarily suspend the
current compensation/salary negotiations until a date to be
determined prior to winter break.
Due primarily to revenue reductions from the state of
Florida, the school district has experienced a significant budget deficit this
year of approximately $29 million. This, coupled with financial uncertainty due
to notice from the Commissioner of Education, Eric Smith, that further
reductions of approximately $8.8 million are anticipated, has made it very
difficult to achieve a salary agreement in negotiations.
It is our hope that once this uncertainty is resolved all
parties will know what the financial reality is for SCPS and an agreement can be
reached that values all our hard working employees.
Further, late yesterday afternoon, a tentative agreement was
reached regarding health insurance for this year. The School District will
continue for the 2008-09 school year to fund all eligible employees at the
United Health Choice Option 2 HMO level. This is the same option that was fully
funded for employees in the 2007-08 school year. Open enrollment meetings will
be scheduled at all schools and work sites soon.
As always, information regarding SCPS budget as well as
negotiations will be provided to employees in a timely fashion.
On behalf of both the School Board and Association
Leadership, we thank you for your continued support of our efforts during these
challenging financial times and wish you all a productive start of school.
Click
here for a copy of the official agreement reached on
August 12, 2008.
SEA Negotiations Update
August 11, 2008
SEA Negotiations Update
July 31, 2008
After several hours of meetings between management and SEA
Leadership to discuss the SCPS 2008-09 budget, coupled with negotiations last
evening, it became very clear that proposals on both sides are still too far
apart to reach a settlement. As a result, it was decided by both parties last
evening to enter into formal mediation. Hank Groton, Commissioner of the Federal
Mediation & Conciliation Services, has been contacted in an effort to expedite
the mediation process. Once mediation has been scheduled, we will provide an
update.
Additionally, details about the differences between SEA's
proposal and management's proposal will be provided at our scheduled August 11,
2008 Faculty Representative Back to School Training. The Faculty Representatives
will provide all teachers with updates during their scheduled pre plan meetings
at all schools. Gay Parker, SEA President and UniServ staff will also attend as
many of these meetings as possible to provide information about our unsettled
contract as well as the processes available to us to secure a favorable
resolution and secure a contract that values all teachers. As always, thanks for
your continued support.
SEA
Negotiations Update
July 24, 2008
After an extended recess, negotiations resumed yesterday
between SEA and the School Board. In light of the requested time (over two
weeks) by the School Board between bargaining sessions, your SEA Team had hoped
for a favorable proposal last night from the School Board; a proposal that
valued teachers and their commitment to Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS).
It is with disappointment that
we have nothing positive to report regarding yesterday’s bargaining session.
SEA is cognizant of the financial crisis that the school district is in. SEA
feels, however, that teachers are our most valuable resources and the primary
reason why SCPS is a high performing district. Our goals, as reflected in our
proposal of June 25, 2008, recognize this contribution and value teachers by
prioritizing their compensation and benefits in this financial crisis.
To view the School Board’s
initial proposal, which does not include a step and only offers
teachers a one time bonus of $240,
click here.
The School Board’s initial
proposal also rolls back the insurance benefit for all teachers from the United
Choice option 2 to the United Choice option 1. If teachers choose to stay with
the current United Choice option 2, they will have to pay $14.85 per pay period.
The School Board’s initial
proposal also deleted the supplement experience grid that was negotiated last
year.
SEA’s proposal, currently on
the table, includes the following:
-
A step increase on the
current salary schedule as well as ½ percent (on average) to the step.
Teachers on the top of the salary schedule would receive a 1% increase. To
view SEA’s proposal,
click here.
-
The School Board continue to
pay one hundred per cent of the United Choice option 2 for the employee.
-
An additional Compensatory Day (to be used on a teacher work day)
that recognizes the professionalism of teachers and the numerous hours they
work over and above their regular work day hours.
-
That teachers are allowed to
access, at no cost to them, the SCPS Extended Day Care Program at their
school.
-
Continue working toward our
goal on sick leave payout upon retirement.
A counter to our proposal was
offered on July 23, 2008 by the School Board. The School Board is willing to
grant all teachers a step; however, they only want to grant half the value of
the actual step on the salary schedule. The other half would be a one time
bonus. This is unacceptable to SEA for the following reasons:
Retirement is not paid on bonus
dollars, thus lowering the cost of the salary to the School Board. In the
2009-10 school year, the bonus money would not be compounded in the salary
calculation. This lack of compounding in next year’s salary calculation will
have a devastating impact on future earnings, and retirement income will be
greatly diminished. The School Board’s offer of the partial step on the salary
schedule will result in smaller step increases and will negatively impact
retirement calculations. This will permanently reduce the value of the salary
structure itself between the steps.
The superintendent received a
3.5% base salary increase. While this salary increase is being donated to the
Foundation, next year the increase will be compounded in his 2009-10 salary
increase.
To view a copy of the School
Board’s latest proposal,
click here.
Additionally, the School Board
has rejected SEA’s proposal to continue funding health care at the United Choice
option 2 level.
Further, they turned down our
proposal for the compensatory day and for allowing teachers to access the
Extended Day Care Program for their children at no cost to teachers.
Their proposal did agree to
continue improving the sick leave payout upon retirement and offered a 3 per
cent supplement increase after five years of service deleting the 10 and 15 year
grid in the current contract.
Your SEA Bargaining Team will
return to the negotiations table on Wednesday, July 30, 2008.
As always thank you for your
continued support of our efforts on behalf of the teachers of Seminole County.
Remember, together we remain STRONG.
New Laws that Impact
Public Schools Taking Effect
