Negotiators do not believe final ratification can occur on USD 475 teaching contracts before teachers report to work on Aug. 11, but there is optimism that can eventually be achieved.

Following a negotiating session on Monday there was confirmation the teachers have been offered an average six-and-a half percent salary increase.  Still unresolved are issues involving benefits, professional day and meetings issues,  and definition of the contract year. One proposal by the Board of Education calls for an eight hour duty day instead of a seven-hour-50 minute day.

Junction City Education Association President Cathy Rankin noted, “JCEA is worried about a loss of individual plan time for elementary teachers.  We’re worried about an increase in the teacher work day, and we’re worried about the loss of flex-time benefit for teachers.”  Flex-time allows teachers to work the same amount of time, but if necessary due to a development in their personal life can arrive at work 15 minutes later or leave a little bit later than they normally would. “It can only be used if there is nothing else at the school going on. So if there’s any duty that they have to do at the school or any meeting, that has to come first. Rankin added the Board of Education wants to eliminate that flex-time.

Negotiators have reached agreement on teacher discipline policy and teacher appraisal process. The Board of Education is also offering an increase in funding for the supplemental salary schedule for employees who handle extra duty, such as coaches.

Negotiations continue Aug. 4 and Aug. 6,  but a final ratified agreement is not expected to be completed by the time teachers return to work on Aug. 10 for the new school year, but Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, Dr. Beth Hudson, observed they do think it will be within a couple of weeks after the teachers return. In that scenario teachers would continue working under the contract in effect during the past year, but any improvements in a new contract would be retroactive to the first day of that contract.