NEA-T and Topeka Public Schools have completed interest
based bargaining and reached agreement on a contract for certified staff for
the 2014-2015 school year. Interest
based bargaining is a collaborative form of negotiations where both sides look
to resolve interests rather than the traditional form of positional
bargaining. Members of NEA-T have ratified
the agreement. The Board of Education took
action on the agreement at its August 21 meeting.
The agreement adds $680 to the base salary of certified
staff as well as step movement both vertical and horizontal.
Certified staff will see no increase in
insurance rates.
“Our health insurance
premiums have not increased for four consecutive years,” said Deputy Superintendent
Larry Robbins.
“Single coverage health
insurance with a $1,000 deductible, prescription drug coverage, dental care and
$10,000 in life insurance costs an employee $20 a month.”
The agreement includes enhancements for longevity pay with
the intent being to help retain experienced teachers already in the district.
“We previously had three levels or intervals for awarding longevity
increases.
This agreement increases the
number to six levels for different intervals of longevity pay adjustments, with
the maximum being $1,000 annually,”said Robbins.
NEA-T representative Richard Bolejack agreed,
“As teachers, we feel the district is interested in retaining good, quality,
veteran teachers.”
The Board of Education is interested in both retaining high
quality teaching staff and recruiting the best instructional staff
available.
By adding $680 to the base,
the starting salary for a new teacher graduating from college is now $37,120
per year.
Due process rights were not part of negotiations because it
is already included in the professional agreement and has been since the 1990’s
according to Bolejack.
Both sides are pleased with how the interest based
bargaining process went. “Teachers
across the district are very happy with the agreement that was reached,” said
Bolejack. Robbins said, “I think both
sides are happy with the fact that we were able to reach agreement on a package
that is mutually beneficial for both the school district and our certified
staff.”
