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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 14, 2006 Rogue River School District teachers and support staff wave to motorists with signs of thanks after accepting a proposed contract Thursday. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Strike ends Rogue River classes resume next week; School Board member cites ‘team effort’ By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER — Teachers ended their 1 ½ -day strike and returned to their classrooms Thursday afternoon after accepting a proposed employment contract. Classes resume for middle and high school students on Monday. Students in elementary grades will return to school Tuesday after parent-teacher conferences the day before, district officials said. The agreement brings to an end the first teachers’ strike in Jackson County since 1973’s Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act. The sticking point in negotiations — whether the district could unilaterally cut days to balance the budget — was resolved when the district agreed to reinstate days if the ending balance turned out to be greater than 6 percent. Teachers began picketing at 6 a.m. Wednesday in gray drizzle. Their bargaining team ended its day at 1:30 a.m. after an 8 ½ -hour session with district officials resulted in a tentative agreement. Advertisement "It was a real team effort," said School Board member Mike Kuntz. "I think and hope it will start to bring about a foundation for a more cooperative and collaborative effort between the teachers and the board." On Thursday, teachers gathered under sunny skies at Palmerton Park in Rogue River. They cheered, sang and approved their new contract at around 1 p.m. "Now we have a contract, and that’s really cool," harmonized four teachers to the tune of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." High school teacher and spokesperson/negotiator Joe Burns said teachers initiated the final meeting with the district. After a year of fruitless negotiations, board member Trayce Geddes said the board was relieved to sit "face to face" with the teachers’ team — and without state mediators. "Mediation did not work for us, in our town, with our people," said Geddes. Kuntz said trust was built Wednesday night across the bargaining table — and over pizzas. "For whatever reason none of us had the sense to make it come together until yesterday," Kuntz said Thursday. The new agreement enables the School Board to cut up to six days from the 2007-08 school year, said Susan Crumpton of the Oregon Education Association. For every two days cut, teachers lose 1 percent of their salaries and the district saves about $30,000 a day. The agreement also sets out conditions that would restore those days. Both parties will meet in March 2008; if the district’s projected ending fund balance is expected to be above $525,000 (approximately 6 percent of the budget), the days will be reinstated, she explained. "For us, that is the accountability we wanted," said Crumpton. The hard-fought agreement is separate from the contract and expires June 30, 2008, said Crumpton. Kuntz said the teachers allowed the board to choose a dollar figure it was comfortable with. "The board really appreciated this," said Kuntz. In return, the teachers received assurances the board would not take more days than necessary to be fiscally responsible, he said. The teachers voted 52-2 to approve both the agreement and the contract. Six teachers were absent from the voting, said Burns. The board must still formally ratify the tentatively approved contract, Geddes said. Wednesday’s negotiations took place during executive session. The board is in agreement on the contract’s approval, but cannot formally vote on the proposal until its regular board meeting on April 20, she said. "But this is a formality," said Geddes. "I don’t like the words ‘slam dunk,’ but it’s pretty much a given." Superintendent Charles Hellman said he was relieved the strike was resolved so quickly. "I’m feeling very happy today," said Hellman. "Our teachers are back in the classrooms and our students will be back in their instructional programs." Security guards, hired to keep the peace during the strike, have been released from duty at all four schools, Hellman said. "We certainly have never experienced a strike," said Hellman. "We didn’t know what to expect. As it turned out, picketing was extremely peaceful and organized." Teachers will not be paid for the time spent on strike. Thursday afternoon, teachers picketed one last time in downtown Rogue River. But this time, instead of carrying placards demanding a "Contract Now!" the teachers’ messages were ones of gratitude to a supportive community. Signs stating "We’re Back!" and "Thanks For Your Support" garnered approval from passing motorists — including Kuntz, who was driving home to Wimer from his work as an engineer with Jackson County. "I thought that was cool," said Kuntz. "I gave them a honk and a wave." A look at the details The Rogue River School District proposed contract and tentative agreement includes the following: A time-limited Memorandum of Agreement for 2007-08. The agreement would allow the district to cut up to six days from the school year to balance the budget. Teachers and board members will meet in March 2008 with the superintendent and business manager to determine how many days, if any, will be reinstated. If the projected ending fund balance is expected to be above $525,000 — or roughly 6 percent of the budget — the parties will reinstate projected day cuts. A 1 percent salary increase to all teachers for the first year with additional pay increases of 3.35 percent for both longevity and educational steps for this school year and next. A $55 increase in insurance payments per month per employee for 2006-07. At least 15 minutes of duty-free time during the student day for elementary staff members. The individual sites will determine the scheduling of the time. Notification to the Rogue River Teachers Association president of unsafe or threatening situations at schools. Six percent employee contribution to Public Employee Retirement System plans paid by the district. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail Strike ends ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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