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Schools

South Lake and Teachers Ratify Contract

District expects a to save approximately $2 million over course of contract.

For the last two years, South Lake Schools teachers have been working under an expired contract, but now the teachers and district can look forward to thee years under a new agreement.

At a recent special meeting, the South Lake Board of Education voted 5-2 to adopt a five-year contract with the South Lake Education Association. Although the agreement is officially for five years, it covers the two years when the teachers did not have a contract and expires at the end of the 2013-14 school year.

Highlights of the agreement include no raises the first three years, followed by a full-step pay increase during the 2012-13 school year. In addition, the teachers will receive a 1-percent raise and a full-step pay increase during the final year of the contract.

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The agreement includes several provisions that will reduce South Lake’s expenditures. Two steps will be added to the bottom of the salary schedule, so new hires will be employed at a lower cost. Also, the teachers will have a total of 10 deferred-payment days during the course of the contract, and those banked days will be redeemed, at a later point, at half of the daily rate from 2011-12.

In the area of benefits, the teachers will contribute 10 percent of the cost of health insurance premiums. Also, they will pay an insurance deductible and higher rates for prescriptions and doctor visits.

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During this year alone, South Lake expects to save $200,000 from the premium contribution and $111,000 from the insurance deductible, said Ted VonHiltmayer, director of human resources and transportation.

Over the entire course of the contract, South Lake anticipates saving between $1.8 million and $2 million, VonHiltmayer said.

Although the contract is advantageous to the district’s bottom line, some school board members still expressed concerns about it. Board Vice President Allan Innes and Trustee Vince Marino voted against the measure.

Innes said there was inadequate discussion among the board regarding the contract. Also, he disagreed with a couple of items, one of which is the wage increase in the final year of the contract.

Marino agreed with Innes.

“For a number of years, I have voted no for any increase for any group,” Marino said following the meeting. “I don’t feel that the district is in good enough financial shape to give increases at this time. I know the raise isn’t until three years from now, but I’m assuming the economic climate is going to be the same in three years.”

The teachers’ union has been receptive to helping the district cut costs, as evidenced by their willingness to switch to a cheaper insurance provider four years ago, said Diane West, vice president of the South Lake Education Association.

Timothy Allen, president of the union, said he is pleased to have a ratified contract.

“I would like to thank the South Lake Board for their support in ratifying the contract. SLEA and the administration have worked very hard to come to an agreement that will insure the future of our students, district and our community,” Allen said. “In these very difficult times, it is important to have a strong working relationship between teachers and administration. This contract is an example of how much South Lake values their employees.”

VonHiltmayer praised the union for working with the district to reach an agreement.

“The administration is grateful to Tim Allen and Diane West for their recent efforts and cooperation in coming to this agreement,” he said. “We are pleased that this collaboration with SLEA will allow the district to continue using fiscally responsible practices when educating our students without wavering on our commitment to a quality education for all.”

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