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40 °F 5 Day Forecast Tuesday, December 9, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend November 29, 2003 Teachers will resume negotiations in 2004 By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune PHOENIX — Teachers recently received a minimal 1 percent bump in salary this year, but they will return to the bargaining table in January as financial uncertainty plagues the school district. "The teachers have been pretty reasonable to deal with," said school board chairman Rick Nagel. The district agreed to raise the cap on what it pays for monthly insurance premiums from $580 to $638. In an $18 billion budget, the new contract will cost the district $196,000, said Superintendent Ben Bergreen. The salary increase is less than the annual rate of inflation, pegged at 1.5 percent nationally. Advertisement Last year, schools were shut down for 10 days because of budget problems, amounting to about a 5 percent salary decrease for teachers, Bergreen said. With negotiations over this year’s salary increase behind them, Bergreen said, teachers and the district will start a new bargaining session in 2004-05. Normally, districts like to negotiate a multiyear contract. "Instability leads to this kind of thing," he said. Like other districts in the county, the Phoenix-Talent district is worried voters will shoot down an $800 million tax surcharge approved by the Legislature this year. A combination of minimal salary increases, lost days and the potential for more problems has not set well with teachers or anyone else in Bergreen’s district. "I think people are feeling pushed against the wall," he said. With a shortfall of this magnitude, he said it would be equivalent to shutting school down for 30 days or losing 40 teachers. The district has already been forced to cut staff and take other measures to deal with a $4.1 million shortfall in the past two years. Last year, 13.5 vacant positions were eliminated — 10 teachers, 2.5 district employees and one administrator. Despite the financial problems, Bergreen said his district, unlike others in the valley, has managed to keep class sizes below 30 students. Bergreen said no decision has been made on salary increases for administrative staff. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times