Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 14, 2006 Medford teachers say they want ‘fair, equitable’ contract By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune The Rogue River teachers’ strike has highlighted what is at stake in contract negotiations in the Medford School District, the district’s bargaining teams said Thursday. "A fair and equitable settlement is what we want," said Cheryl Lashley, Medford teachers union spokeswoman and a third-grade teacher at Howard Elementary School. "Rogue River teachers had to go to great lengths to get theirs. Hopefully, we won’t have to do that to get ours." Dan Zaklan, human resources director and the district’s head negotiator, acknowledged a strike is eventually a possibility but noted that the negotiations are still in their infancy. The Medford district employee unions have been in negotiations since February for new contracts, which set salaries, benefits and duties. The existing contracts for the district’s 600 teachers and 450 support staff members expire June 30. Advertisement "One of our goals is for a fair and equitable contract," Zaklan said. "A strike can be part of the process. At this stage, the negotiations have been cordial. We will reach a stage where there will have to be problem- solving. We are taking one step at a time." The district gave the teachers union a compromise offer Wednesday that made concessions giving teachers more involvement in assigning aides and in implementing state and federal academic requirements. The district, however, did not budge on aspects of the contract that cost the district money, such as salaries, benefits and class sizes. District officials said the new offer would be "baby steps, and that’s exactly what it was," Lashley said. Medford teachers who attended the bargaining session Wednesday wore pins stating, "We support Rogue River teachers." "It is very startling to see that people will strike, that this is serious business," said June Buck, former teachers union president and a retired teacher. "If the Rogue River strike has an impact, I would hope it is a motivation for compromise." District officials said they are willing to compromise with the teachers in areas where they can. However, state funding has been decreasing as a result of declining enrollment, forcing the district to make cuts in expenses, district officials said. "There is no more money than what we get," Zaklan said. "Compromising on that, how do we do that?" The new district offer keeps a 1.5 percent cost-of-living raise each year with no extras for seniority — half of the annual pay hike teachers now receive. Under existing contracts, employees receive a 3.4 percent raise each year. The offer also calls for ending the $300 monthly stipend for retirees, increasing employees’ share of health insurance premiums, providing for at least 50 minutes of preparation time, removing the limitation on the number of mandatory staff meetings, adding an average of 17 minutes to the elementary class day and requiring teachers to do supervision duties during lunch, recess and before and after classes. The district "wants us to individualize instruction for kids," Lashley said. "Having before and after school and lunchtime allows us to help the student who isn’t getting it. "I have three or four students at lunchtime in my classroom to get help or take a reading test, and I’m not the exception." Teachers have asked to maintain the terms of the existing contract, including pay, benefits and a limit on staff meetings, stipends for retirees and more than 50 minutes of preparation time. They said they also want limits on class sizes, which approach 40 students in some cases. Ann Manes, a teacher at Washington Elementary, said district officials and teachers have had a harmonious relationship in the past. She said she expects the same for the ongoing negotiations. The next move The next bargaining session between Medford teachers and the district is from noon to 8 p.m. Monday at the Medford Education Association, 2495 South Pacific Highway. Details on the district’s contract offers are available at www.medford.k12.or.us . Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4459 or e-mail Medford teachers say they want �fair, equitable� contract ">[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. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Hammocks Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Email Security Advertisement s Advertisement