Fact Finder Recommends Step Increases for CSSU Teachers
by Nancy Wood,
September 9, 2010, page 6.....

Teacher negotiations in the Chittenden South Supervisory Union (CSSU) have been at an impasse since February. The CSSU board negotiation team – including two members each from the school boards of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne and Williston – was not able to schedule mediation with the teachers until June. No progress was made at mediation and the parties moved into fact finding. The fact finder’s report, dated August 16, was released to the public on August 30.
The fact finder, Louis J. Patack, rejected both the board negotiation team’s proposal for a complete salary freeze (including no vertical step increases) and the teachers’ proposal for a 6-7% salary increase. Instead he recommended “a one-year agreement for 2010-2011 and that the salary schedule in effect for 2009-2010 remain in effect with teachers continuing to advance on step.” Teachers who are at the highest step of their respective salary columns would have no increase, so the average cost to the school districts, according to the fact finder’s report, would be approximately 1.75%.
The starting pay on the 2009-2010 salary scedule for a new teacher with a bachelors degree and less than five years experience is $38,610. The top salary for an experienced teacher with 15 or more years of experience and multiple education credits/degrees is $77,220.
According to CSSU, the increased cost for the CSSU school districts would range from 1.3% to 1.9%. The increase in Charlotte would be 1.67%. According to CCS Board Chair Lynne Jaunich, who, with former board chair Patrice Machavern, represents Charlotte on the negotiation team, the 1.67% would equal approximately $80,000. Since there was no increase for teachers’ salaries included in the 2010-2011 budget that was passed on May 18, the $80,000 would have to be reallocated from some other area of the budget.
Jaunich said that the negotiation team’s proposal allowed for horizontal step increases, which occur when teachers earn academic credit and degrees beyond the bachelor’s degree. The proposal did not allow vertical step increases this year which occur based on years of service. These increases, which the fact finder recommends, can amount to 4-5% increases for individual teachers.
The fact finder recommended an increase in teachers’ contribution to health care coverage from 12% to 13%, not the 20% requested by the board. However,the fact finder did accept the board’s proposal to offer a high-deductible, lower-cost health insurance program for consideration by teachers – with a contribution of 8% to the cost rather than the board’s proposal for a 15% contribution.
Current health plans offered to the teachers and staff cost from $6,346 for a single person to $18,890 for a family. The teachers now pay 12% of the cost and the schools pay 88%.
The fact finder did not recommend several other non-monetary proposals submitted by both parties, saying, “In the fact finder’s experience it is uncommon for one-year agreements to address items other than money and health insurance.”
In a press release on August 30, the CSSU negotiating team said, “It is concerned that the Fact Finder’s recommendations do not meet the needs and expectations of our communities. The boards are committed to reach a fiscally responsible settlement. At this time, the board’s negotiating team has requested that the two parties resume negotiations in an attempt to find a solution to the impasse. Dates have been exchanged and we are hopeful that a meeting will take place within two to three weeks.
“The boards remain hopeful that the Parties will find a negotiated solution to the impasse. In the event a successor agreement is not reached, the boards have a legal right to impose a one-year contract and the teachers have the right to strike. The board hopes to avoid either of those options. Nevertheless, these are difficult times and the boards remain committed to a settlement which is in the best interests of the CSSU communities. By law, neither party can take unilateral action until 30 days after the receipt of the fact finding report.
“The board negotiating team continues to believe that a strong, fiscally responsible position is necessary to meet its fiduciary responsibilities to our communities while maintaining a quality education for our students. The board negotiating team recognizes that we all face financial challenges and believes any resolution to the ongoing contract negotiation process must reflect the current economic environment affecting all Vermonters.”
The CSSU release added that, “Citizens are invited to call or email their board representatives with input on the points and positions outlined herein.”
Lisa Bisbee, Chief Negotiator for the Chittenden South Education Association, said, “The teachers union is looking forward to meeting again with the board representatives. Our goal is to settle a contract that is good for the teachers, the community and the students of the district. We are pleased that the district wants to avoid imposition and we believe the negotiating process will be successful.”
The complete text of the fact-finder’s report is posted on the CSSU website at cssu.org.