Teachers OK contract

GLADSTONE - After 15 months without a contract, teachers in the Gladstone School District ratified a contract agreement Tuesday for the next three years.

It most likely was with a great sigh of relief teachers ratified the contract, taking comfort that the process had been concluded, and the business of educating students could begin in earnest.

A meeting of the Gladstone Education Association (GEA) was held Tuesday at the Gladstone Crisis Center. Teachers in attendance voted to approve the contract.

"There were some items in the contract that were acceptable, and some items were not. However, we based our proposals at the negotiating table on the report provided by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) fact-finder," said Sandy Walker of the Michigan Education Association.

She said the contract featured a one-year extension over what the fact-finder had proposed.

"It was a tense school board meeting Monday night from what I understand, which made meeting on Tuesday even more difficult for the teachers who were deciding whether to accept the contract or not," Walker said.

The contract agreement is a four-year deal. It reverts back to the start of the 2007-08 school year, but there is no salary increase for that year.

There will be a 2 percent increase on the base salary in the 2008-09 year. Teachers will receive reduced-rate insurance with a $10 per month co-pay. Another 2-percent salary increase will follow in 2009-10, and insurance co-pay will increase to $50 per month.

In the final year, teachers can receive up to a 2-percent increase in salary, but the increase is tied directly to insurance costs. Co-pay continues at $50 per month with the option to receive a reduced-rate insurance package.

Also as part of the negotiated contract, teachers eligible for retirement under the Michigan Retirement System will receive $69,000 under the Early Retirement Initiative, said Walker.

"We accepted a reduction in prescription cards along with the monthly 10/20 co-pay," said Mike Lagina, who teaches science and social studies at the Gladstone Middle School.

Gladstone Area Superintendent Jay Kulbertis said the early retirement incentive is one of the major changes for teachers. Previously, there was a terminal leave package built, that could be accessed at any time when a teacher decides to retire. The new incentive is tied to sick leave and has limited accessibility.

"If a teacher decides to forego retirement until they are eligible, then they forego retirement incentive," explained Kulbertis.

Lagina noted there was a saying that if both parties walked away unhappy with a contract then it was a good contract.

"Not everyone is happy with this contract, there are parts we like and parts we don't like, but now is the time to move ahead with a positive attitude. We are proud of our staff, our district and our school," he said.

As a result of the tumultuous past 15 months, a recall effort was initiated seeking the recall of four members of the Gladstone School Board.

When questioned as to whether the recall initiative would continue in light of the recently ratified contract, the answer was yes.

"We have a letter ready to go, and it will be presented to the Delta County Clerk's office shortly for a clarity hearing to be scheduled. I would expect the petition wording to be delivered by some time next week," said Sheri Bovin, who serves on the Recall Committee.