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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 10, 2005 Teachers, staff reach pay hike agreement By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune Teachers and support staff in the Eagle Point school district will get a 5 percent pay hike this year and raises in the next two years under an agreement between the district and an employee union. After 10 months of heated negotiations, the district and the Eagle Point Education Association hammered out a verbal deal early Tuesday that will determine wages, health benefits, class size, preparation time and transfer procedures for the next two and a half years. Details of the agreement were released Friday after copies were distributed to the union’s membership. "I’m very pleased we were able to come to an agreement finally after very long and trying negotiations," said Matt Pinder, union spokesman. The education association and the Southern Oregon Bargaining Council are expected to ratify the contract Monday. The school board will consider it next Wednesday. Advertisement The union’s 360 teachers and support staff have worked without a contract since June 30 as they bargained for better pay and health benefits and a limit on class size. The negotiations began in March. A state mediation last Monday that carried into the wee hours of Tuesday helped hash out the final agreement. The mediation cost $1,000, a bill to be shared by the district and union, Pinder said. Wages will increase by 5 percent this year, 2 percent next year and 5 percent in the 2007-08 school year. "I believe with the new compensation package we will become more competitive with like-size districts in order to recruit and retain quality teachers," said Superintendent Bill Feusahrens. The district agreed to up the share it pays for employees’ health insurance from $700 to $800 per month with slight increases in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years. District officials could not immediately provide an estimate Friday of how much the salary hikes and insurance benefits will cost. The union failed to achieve a class size limit but procured a promise from the school board to pass a class size policy. However, the contract does not set a timeline for making the policy. "We know that when you have a large class, it becomes more of a management situation than an instructional situation," Pinder said. "That’s why the union wanted to have a class size limit." But he said fluctuating enrollment can make it difficult to abide by class size restrictions. Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4496 or e-mail Teachers, staff reach pay hike agreement ">[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 Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Advertisement s