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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 20, 2005 Contract negotiations continue in Eagle Point Union employees still working under terms of contract that expired in June By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune After months of contract negotiations, the Eagle Point School District and a union representing its teachers and other employees haven’t reached agreement on salary and health insurance, or on hot-button issues such as class sizes and preparation time during the school day. "We have more concerns than we would like to at this time," said union president and Eagle Point High School health teacher Jody Streetman. Negotiations started in March and the previous contract expired June 30, although teachers continue to work under those terms. "We would have liked to have had a contract in place when school started," school board Chairwoman Teresa Hulla said. "This is frustrating for all of us, who really wish this could be done by now." Compensation remains a top point of contention, although both sides say they want a salary package that is competitive. Advertisement Hulla acknowledged that the district’s teacher salaries have lagged behind those of similarly sized districts. To help remedy that, the district has proposed a 4.5 percent increase for all employees during the 2005-06 school year, a 2 percent increase in 2006-07 with additional increases of 3.4 percent based on experience, and a 3 percent salary increase for everyone in 2007-08. The union has asked for a 5.4 percent salary increase for this year and raises in future years of at least 3 percent based on the Consumer Price Index and teacher experience. For health insurance, the union wants the district to pay the full $850 monthly premium for a policy offered by the Oregon Education Association, the state teachers’ union. The district said it can get comparable coverage from BlueCross BlueShield, which provides health insurance for district administrators, for $750 a month and would be willing to pay that premium in full. Because negotiations have dragged on, the district sent a letter Sept. 9 saying it planned to stop discussing some topics, including class sizes, prep time during the school day for middle school teachers and teachers’ rights to seek new jobs within the district. All the items are considered "permissive" bargaining subjects under state law, meaning they can be discussed during contract negotiations, but don’t have to be. With class sizes, for example, the contract required the district provide an aide for teachers whose classes exceeded the limit set in the contract. District officials want to have more flexibility to hire teachers to whittle class sizes down, such as the 16 teachers hired last year, rather than aides, Hulla said. "We know what effective teaching takes and we wouldn’t put 40 kids in a class," she said. Streetman said some elementary classes now have 36 students in them and teachers need help. "The district talks the talk on class size, but they need to walk the walk," she said. The next negotiation between the district and union is set for Sept. 27. Although negotiations are ongoing, the district has contacted a mediator, who can be called on if needed, said union representative Susan Crumpton. Rogue River, the other Jackson County school district that hasn’t reached accord with teachers, is set to begin mediation Oct. 11. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail Contract negotiations continue in Eagle Point ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s