3.3.0 SYCAMORE UNION NEGOTIATION 2011
Teacher contract approved, administration and teachers agree to salary freeze
The Sycamore Board of Education approved a one year collective bargaining agreement with the Sycamore Education Association during their May 18 meeting.
SEA represents approximately 449 employees, including teachers, guidance counselors, school nurses and media specialists. SEA ratified the agreement on May 16.
The terms of the contract include a salary freeze for the 2011-12 school year including no wage adjustments for longevity, which are also known as ‘steps.’“The cohesive and professional collaboration between members of SEA and the district are evident in this agreement,” said Diane Adamec, Sycamore Board of Education president. “The outcome is good for everyone in the district including taxpayers, staff and students.” (Adm. comment: It is NOT good because Adamec did not freeze wages for 3 years like many other districts have done.)
During their meeting, the Board also approved a resolution stating that administrators’ salaries will not increase in 2011-12.
May 19, 2011
Erika Daggett, Chief Information Officer
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ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!
Will Sycamore Schools take this opportunity to become more efficient?
According to the current (10/22/1010) Five Year Forecast projections, the Sycamore School District will have a 2015 ending cash balance of $15.6 million. The taxpayers will likely be asked to approve a tax levy in 2012.
Other districts in SW Ohio are facing similar problems and are freezing salary, eliminating step increases and laying off employees.
By reducing Sycamore’s compensation costs by 10 percent and limiting future compensation growth to 3.2 percent, the 2015 ending cash balance could be a $37 million surplus. There would be no need for a tax levy.
Besides eliminating a tax increase, why is this reduced expenditure solution important?
- Without it, compensation costs would grow to 102.2 percent of total revenues by 2015,
- Sycamore’s average teacher salary is 27 percent higher than the state average and 46 percent higher than local median income,
- Sycamore spends more dollars per student than 76 of the 81 top rated “Excellent with Distinction” districts,
- Local taxpayers would save nearly $20 million annually if Sycamore spent at the 75th percentile of all Ohio Excellent with Distinction districts. Sycamore is now spending at the 94th percentile.
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November 20, 2008
Contact: Erika Daggett, Chief Information Officer
For Immediate Release
Sycamore Board of Education, teacher association approve agreement
The Sycamore Board of Education approved a three year collective bargaining agreement with the Sycamore Education Association during the Nov. 19 Board meeting.
SEA represents approximately 440 district certificated employees, such as teachers, school nurses and media specialists. SEA ratified the agreement on Nov. 17.
The agreement addresses working conditions and compensation issues, mainly salary and health care. As a result of the agreement, the district’s salary scale will increase by an average of less than two percent per year. In addition, measures will be implemented to maintain the cost of health care.
“In recognition of the increasing cost of health care, SEA agreed to join the Butler Health Plan,” said Beth Weber, district treasurer. “BHP has been able to utilize its large numbers, along with low administrative costs and progressive approaches, to keep premium costs much lower than what Sycamore can achieve.”
Used by all public schools in Butler County, as well as Great Oaks, BHP is a self-funded medical, prescription and dental plan serving more than 6,800 employees.
“The SEA negotiations team is proud of this contract and believes it is fair for all parties involved,” said Kevin Wittman, SEA president and Sycamore High School government teacher. “I personally want to thank my team members for their dedication and hard work and SEA members for their opinions, interest and involvement. Their support helped us reach this agreement.”
Superintendent Adrienne C. James, Ed.D., was also pleased with negotiations.
“The ratification of the SEA contract reflects a cohesive collaboration between members of SEA and the district. It was evident throughout the negotiation process that both teams recognized the value of working together,” stated James. “The diligence and efforts of the negotiation teams are very much appreciated.”
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The current August 1, 2008 Through July 31, 2011 Sycamore Teacher Contract expires July 31, 2011.
The Board or the Association (union) must serve a written notice on the other of its intention to amend or terminate this Agreement one hundred twenty (120) calendar days prior to August 1, 2011, or……. {The notice must be during March, 2011 or sooner. If not, the current contract will remain in effect.}
Within 10 working days after receipt of written notice to negotiate, both will meet to discuss possible issues. Formal negotiations for a new Agreement will begin within 10 working days after the informal meeting.
Members of the negotiating teams shall not exceed 6 members on each team, except for the facilitator or any other persons the negotiating teams mutually agree, at their prior negotiating meeting, to allow to attend for the sole purpose of making a specific presentation of a subject of the negotiations.
Parties can agree to utilize an alternative settlement dispute procedure through Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)..
The union team will include a Sycamore union employee and three (none Sycamore employees) representatives of the three affiliate unions OEA, NEA and SOEA.
Board members Mrs. Diane Adamec, Mrs. Jill Cole, Mr. Kenneth Richter, Mr. John Mercurio and Mrs. Jean Staubach were elected by the voters. Each are responsible and accountable for the terms of the contract.
Here are some questions members of the community would like answered:
- Has the Board of Education meet to discuss a possible contract negotiation?
- When was the notice sent and by whom?
- Who specifically will represent the Board and taxpayers in the negotiation?
- What is the Board position relative to the reasonableness of the salary points (dollar amounts)?
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Sycamore teacher union negotiation heading toward discord?
The prospect for turmoil in the upcoming negotiation between the Sycamore Education Association and the Board of Education is becoming more likely.
The current situation is very complex with many interacting factors. Among those factors are the eventual passage of a modified Senate Bill 5; the elimination of automatic annual step raises; an accelerated annual loss of the State’s $12 million reimbursed tangible personal property tax revenue; the district’s growing multi-million dollar budget deficit; average teacher pay that far exceeds local medium income by 46 percent; pro-rated teacher wages over $109,000 annually; health and pension benefits that exceed the private sector; the prospect of a new 2012 operating levy; a cost per student that is higher than 95 percent of all Ohio districts; declining home values; weak national economy with high unemployment; research indicating that teachers who have been on the job longer are not more effective than newer teachers; the debunking of the value of advanced education for K-12 teachers; and declining student enrollment. There are more factors, but you get the idea.
Board members Adamec, Cole, Mercurio, Richter, and Staubach are on the hot seat. Will they take a stand, say enough is enough, and exercise their control in a fiscally responsible manner? Will they take decisive actions like reducing pay scale dollar amounts, or will they be reluctant to stand firm during collective bargaining because they want to avoid political battles and discord? Will they give in to union demands like past boards? Will they delay settling the contract until after the SB 5 bill becomes law and is fully understood?
What about Kevin Wittman, teacher and president of the local teacher union Sycamore Education Association? What could possibly be on his mind? He was recently quoted as saying, “The teachers are interested in providing the best opportunities for the students of the Sycamore Community School District. We look forward to working with the board of education to accomplish this objective.”
Maybe he hopes the district will not intensify its focus on becoming more efficient. Maybe he’s hoping to avoid the adoption of a two-tiered pay schedule which could be used to control costs.
Maybe he hopes the taxpayers won’t become aware that his own salary increased 32 percent during the past six years. His FY10 contracted salary was $85,545 for working 7.25 hours per day and 185 days per year. The pro-rated pay would be $131,802. The pro-rated pay represents what the teacher would make for working a typical 2,080 hour job based on the hourly rate made for working roughly 1,350 hours required in a 185 day school year.
Mr. Wittman’s pay increase is mild compared to other Sycamore teachers whose pay has increased roughly 55 percent. Top pay is currently $91,857. Maybe he and fellow teachers are hoping to continue the compensation pattern of the past. After all, as some say, it is a people business and compensation only accounts for 86 percent of total expenditures.
Source: Teachers union negotiation heading toward discord. By Glenn Welch a resident of Montgomery. Viewpoints, Northeast Suburban Life, March 30, 2011.
According to the (10/22/2010) five year forecast projections, the Sycamore Community School District will have an ending cash balance in 2015 of -$15.6 million. The taxpayers will be asked for a tax levy in 2012.
By reducing compensation package costs by 10 percent and limiting future growth to 3.2 percent, the 2015 ending cash balance would be $37 million. There would be no need for a tax levy in this planning period.
Sycamore … to lose nearly 85 percent of the basic state aid it received this year if …
…of $2.4 million received this year … would receive about $373,000 next school year.
“With the governor’s $2.1 million reduction in state basic aid, Sycamore stands to receive only $372,000 for its 5,260 students” said Adrienne James, superintendent of the Sycamore Community Schools.
“There is something profoundly wrong with a plan (Gov. Kasich’s budget) that provides a public school district with only $70 per student, … The governor’s proposal penalizes Sycamore for property values of our community and will force us to cut services and shift more of the burden to community members.”Adrienne James, Sycamore superintendent. Source: Article insert
With this state aid cut …along with ..tangible personal property tax cuts and electric deregulation reimbursements, we are very concerned about maintaining the excellent educational programming we currently offer our students. James said.
The Office of Budget and Management estimates Sycamore would in the 2012-2013 school year recoup some of the more than $2 million drop with an allocation of nearly $947,000 in basic aid.
Administrators Note: Planned state aid to Sycamore:
FY11 $2,400,000
FY12 $373,000
FY13 $947,000
Source: Sycamore schools will get $2M less from state. By Jeanne Houck.
Northeast Suburban Life April 13, 2011 front page
Administrator comment: This title and story is misleading because the percentage and dollar amount focused on is ONLY for next year. The percentage and amounts will be different for FY13.
The North College Hill proposed teacher contract would “have no step increases for each of the next three years. It also would freeze base salaries for next year, raise them 1 percent the following and 1 percent the year after.” The teachers are expected to vote on the contract Monday …
Source: Board to meet on teachers contract. The Enquirer. Local News March 30, 2011 B3
School Board Meeting – ON AGENDA Sycamore source: the enquirer
3/16/11 Executive session on personnel and negotiations.
In a February 25, 2011, Charles Krauthammer column entitled US rescue coming at state level, he writes, “They ($3.6 billion budget shortfall …) came largely from a half-century power imbalance between the unions and the politicians with whom they collectively bargain.”
Our state legislators negotiate (bargain) directly with the teacher unions. They Collectively Bargain with each other. Our locally elected board of education (BOE) officials do not bargain with teacher unions on many matters, notably benefits such as health care and pension.
Our local board official’s hands are tied in many cases. Even if they wanted to be more fiscally conservative, some compensation costs are out of their control.
The only thing that the BOE has control over are those aspects that they directly negotiate with the unions, i.e., wages. And, even that is only partial control. BOE control relates to their decisions the actual dollar amounts shown on the salary schedule and whether or not to grant cola increases with a specific percentage amount. They do not have control over the costly automatic step raises that are built into the teacher’s salary schedule structure, which is part of the Collective Bargaining law.
“It’s likey we will enter negotiations this spring, but nothing has been scheduled and the topic is not on an upcoming board agenda,” Daggett said.
Kevin Wittman, president of the Sycamore Education Association, agreed.
Wittman said, “The teachers are interested in providing the best opportunities for the students of the Sycamore Community School District.
“We look forward to working with the board of education to accomplish this objective,” Wittman said.
Source: The Enquirer, Your Hometown 2-19-11 p6
Evening Board meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at E.H. Greene Intermediate School, 5200 Aldine Drive.
Diane Adamec Pres., adamecd@sycamoreschools.org (513) 686-1700
Jill Cole, colej@sycamoreschools.org (513) 686-1700
John Mercurio, mercurioj@sycamoreschools.org (513) 686-1700
Ken Richter, richterk@sycamoreschools.org (513) 686-1700
Jean Staubach, staubachj@sycamoreschools.org (513) 686-1700
Board of Education (email all Board members automatically) schoolboard@sycamoreschools.org (513) 686-1700
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A LOOK BACK IN TIME
Saturday, November 23, 2002
Sycamore teachers talking strike
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Disputes include pay raise, insurance
By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Sycamore High School teachers Cheralyn Jardine (from left), Steve Imhoff, Laura Fibbe and Rosemary Ennis discuss strike options at the school Friday with a reporter.
(Jeff Swinger photo)
| ZOOM |
SYCAMORE TWP. – Teachers here are the highest paid in Hamilton County, and they say they’re worth every penny.
Year after year, they help produce high-achieving students, a perfect state report card and double-digit numbers of National Merit semifinalists.
But now, they’re battling the district over rising health care costs and other issues.
Their differences escalated this week when teachers, who have been without a contract since July 31, rejected the board’s latest proposal and took an “intent to strike” vote. That puts the district on notice that a strike vote could be imminent.
Some 440 of the district’s 500 teachers belong to the teachers union. If teachers strike, it would be a first for this 6,000-student district, home to many affluent professionals.
“Nobody wants to strike,” said Rosemary Ennis, a Sycamore High School history teacher. “Our (health) insurance has gone up dramatically. We’re willing to pay more because we understand the problem with insurance; but, at the same time, we don’t want our pay raise reduced by the insurance.”
Teachers say they are only asking to balance significant increases in health insurance with a consistent pay raise. Under the current insurance plan, teachers expect the cost of the district’s policy will increase about 23 percent a year.
The board is offering a 4 percent salary increase a year for three years. Teachers want 4.75 percent the first year, then 4.5 percent a year for the next two years. They say it’s comparable with raises in other local school districts.
DIVISIVE ISSUES
Three issues separate the Sycamore Community School Board and its teachers. Health insurance is the primary sticking point.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Teachers: Want the board to pay 85 percent of the premium (teachers would pay 15 percent).
Board: Wants to maintain the current level of health insurance benefits for the three years of the contract. The board now pays 90 percent of the premium and teachers pay 10 percent up to a cap, then the board pays 80 percent and teachers pay 20 percent.
SALARY
Teachers: Propose 4.75 percent increase the first year, then 4.5 percent each year for two years.
Board: Last offer was 4 percent each year for three years.
FAIR SHARE
Teachers: Want nonunion teachers to pay a “fair share” fee for the services they receive, such as negotiating and legal help if needed. They say paying the fee does not require teachers to join the union.
Board: Says a “fair share” fee essentially requires nonunion teachers to join the union. The board says teachers should have a choice.
“Depending on a teacher’s placement on the pay scale, some of us will find that over a three-year period, the 4 percent raise will only just barely, and in some instances not at all, cover the (health) increases,” said Cheri Wilhelm, a fifth-grade teacher at E.H. Greene Intermediate School.
“To accept the board’s current proposal would mean just `breaking even’ for a large proportion of the staff.”
The board contends that under its offer, Sycamore teachers will receive a salary increase ranging from $2,232 to $4,954 in the first year of the contract alone.
“This would easily exceed this year’s $529 increase in family plan insurance. Teachers who take individual insurance plans would pay even less,” the board said in a flier.
With an average annual salary of $56,710, Sycamore teachers are the highest-paid teachers in Hamilton County and among the highest in the state.
Cheralyn Jardine, a high school journalism teacher, said most high school teachers arrive at 6 a.m., and many are still there at 11 p.m. It’s that dedication, in partnership with students and parents, that has propelled the district to success, she said.
Teachers point to the latest salary increase for Superintendent Karen Mantia, 10 percent last year, and a $35 million cash balance as a sign of the district’s financial health.
“The most important thing in any of these kids’ lives is not whether they have x number of computers and this type of weight room,” said Bryan Jones, a biology and chemistry teacher at Sycamore Junior High. “It comes down to quality teachers. They attract the best teachers here, and it’s because of the salary. I didn’t go into teaching to make money, but if I’m in a district that has the money, we should be sending a message that teachers are valued.”
Board President Charles Wilfong said when the board searched for a new superintendent 2� years ago, it discovered Sycamore was nowhere near the top for administrative salaries.
“We were finding it difficult to attract quality candidates. We realized a good piece of that was compensation. We hired our new superintendent at a rate (about $99,000) we felt was appropriate, but we also knew over a period of time we were going to have to become more competitive.”
The district’s $35 million cash balance enables the board to postpone putting an operating levy on the ballot until 2004, Mr. Wilfong said.
“We always have to keep some cash in our coffers. We’ve been building up cash because of the uncertainty of what state funding is going to do. … If we don’t have cash to continue programs already implemented, we’re going to have to start canceling programs. We feel it’s more important to maintain programs than give the money away,” Mr. Wilfong said.
Negotiations have been going on since March.
Teachers are trying to drum up support in the community. Last weekend, they went door-to-door distributing 9,000 fliers making their case and encouraging residents to attend last Wednesday’s board meeting.
They wear small laminated signs around their necks that say, “I am working without a contract.”
In each building, teachers are sticking to their contracted hours and not putting in additional time. When the bell rings, they leave as a group to show solidarity.
The two sides are planning to negotiate again but haven’t set a date. If a strike occurs, however, the district has vowed to keep schools open with fully certified teachers.