Teacher contract dispute resolved in Nyssa
Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:05 PM PST
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| Nyssa School District teachers and supporters rally in support of a favorable contract near school district buildings last week prior to a mediation session between the teacher’s association and district board members and administration. The two sides have since settled on an agreement and ratified the three-year contract. |
JESSICA KELLER
ARGUS OBSERVER
NYSSA — After months of negotiating, the Nyssa School District and teachers association reached an agreement regarding certified staff three-year contracts.
The Nyssa School Board approved the agreement at its Tuesday meeting, while the teachers association ratified the pact Thursday. The two parties had met in mediation for the second and final time Nov. 3, where a successful conclusion was reached. Original negotiations started last spring before they were abruptly cut off by the teachers association in July. The two parties also met one time in between mediation sessions.
“I think both sides compromised their initial final lines to come to the middle and meet and do what is best for the district,” Nyssa Superintendent Don Grotting said, adding having a mediator contributed greatly to the successful conclusion. “Of course, his or her job is to get a deal, and I think she did a good job of trying to explain each side’s points of view and brought at least a third opinion that was able to bring the sides together.”
Much of the dispute centered on salary, with the teacher’s association contending Nyssa teachers should receive salary raises bringing them closer to their counterparts in Adrian, Vale and Ontario. The agreement maintains all teachers will receive a little more than 5 percent increase the first year and 3.5 percent for the following two years plus their regular step increases if the teachers are eligible to receive them. Other concessions were increases in insurance from $900 to $925 the first year, $950 the second year and $1,000 the third year. Contract language also addressed working conditions and probationary periods for new teachers. Now, teachers who cover another class during his or her prep period will receive $25 or receive compensation time, according to the agreement. In addition, the probationary period has been extended for new teachers so they receive three years of due process to terminate rather than just one.
“There were pieces that were near and dear to our hearts on both sides, I guess, and that’s why we argued so long,” Jill Conant, teacher’s association president, said. “There were just pieces and parts that needed to be in there.”Conant said, while Nyssa teachers won’t be equal in salary to their counterparts in neighboring districts, they made some strides toward accomplishing that, even though they won’t catch up entirely.
“It needs to be reasonable,” she said. “We need to continue to work toward catching up and even moving ahead, but there is that level of reasonableness.” Grotting said the School Board will now get ready for classified staff negotiations, which will likely begin in January.
