[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=42920.34

Contract on agenda

Deborah Sederberg
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Both sides are cautiously optimistic about settling the long-overdue contract talks between the Michigan City Area Schools and the Michigan City Education Association, which appears as an agenda item for today's school board meeting. The teachers contract expired in June 2007.

The history of the negotiations has included a number of starts and stops. Both sides canceled some scheduled negotiating meetings and the teachers were accused of walking out on one session, but they said they were in caucus.

Mediation was part of the process and in October, the administration requested fact-finding. At that time, MCEA President Phyllis Stark called fact-finding "a step backward."

When asked whether mention of the contract means settlement with the teachers is imminent, Board President Jim Kintzele said, "I surely hope we'll be getting it settled." He wouldn't guess about whether the settlement would come today.

Mary Junglas, MCEA Uniserv director and a member of the negotiating team for the teachers, seemed similarly optimistic. "I believe we're closer than we've ever been," she said.

Kintzele said he also feels hopeful about settling the memorandum of understanding with the Michigan City Parks and Recreation Department.

The schools and the park department have been attempting to settle a squabble about the park department's access to school facilities for about a year now.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=22525

Teachers, school, close to contract

Craig Davison
For The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - A settlement may be near in contract talks between Michigan City Area Schools and its teachers.

Michigan City Area Schools Board President James Kintzele Sr. said the board met in executive session Wednesday night hoping members could reach an agreement on a proposal. They would then be able to meet with the union today to "grind this out," he said.

"We can't take a vote but we can get a consensus on what we're willing to do," Kintzele said before the executive session. "We're going to put it to the teachers union (today)."

The teachers' contract expired in June 2007 and, since then, teachers have been working under the terms of the previous contract.

Michigan City Education Association President Phyllis Stark couldn't be reached.

Kintzele said he couldn't disclose details on the collective bargaining, the ongoing discussion or what may have been a sticking point between the union and the school board.

"The whole contract is important, and that's what we'll be discussing," he said.

Throughout the contract negotiations, there have been impasses, mediation and a request from the school board for a fact finder. A fact finder is appointed by the state and would hold a public meeting in which both sides would present proposals, but that has not taken place.

[Southsider2k12]

There is a contract agreement between the teacher and administration pending a teachers union vote.

[JHeath]

Finally. Does it look as though it will pass?

[Southsider2k12]

I am guessing if the union agreed to it, yes, it will pass pretty easily.

[Southsider2k12]

As I understand it the vote went well, and the contract was approved by the teachers. All that remains is for the school board to vote on it at the next meeting, which is considered a formality.

[Dave]

Any ideas as to the details, or won't those become public until the school board votes on it?

[Southsider2k12]

Any ideas as to the details, or won't those become public until the school board votes on it?

I do not believe that they details are allowed to go beyond the teachers, the board, and the negotiators until this is a done deal, per the negotiations rules of not negotiating in public.

[Southsider2k12]

The new contract was approved by the school board tonight. The Deal is done.

[JHeath]

That's fantastic news!!

[Southsider2k12]

Here is the full joint statement from the MCAS and the MCEA about the settlement...

http://mcasnow.mcas.k12.in.us:81/departmen...tract-agreement

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=39897.23

New contract for teachers
Changes include a 9 percent increase in starting pay

Craig Davison
For The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Bringing to a close nearly two years of conflict, the Michigan City Area Schools board on Tuesday night unanimously ratified a new teachers contract that drew many in attendance to their feet, filling the room with applause and cheers.

The new contract includes a 9 percent increase in starting pay for new teachers - $34,589 - as well as other measures ranging from an evaluation process to increased collaboration time for teachers.

Up until Tuesday, MCAS educators were working under a contract that expired in June 2007.

"They bargained in good faith, and it was an honest exchange across the table," MCAS board President James Kintzele Sr. said.

Phyllis Stark, Michigan City Education Association president, thanked the board for ratifying the contract.

"It has been a long process," she said. "It's been a long two years."

Kathy Smidt, head of the Michigan City High School English department, who started with the district in 1969, said the new starting salary will help bring quality teachers to the schools.

"I'm really happy for (the new teachers)," she said.

Both parties agreed to an evaluation process that will provide focus and assistance in growth for teachers, which will translate to improvement in students, according to a joint press release.

The contract was not made available at Tuesday's meeting. Kintzele said the pay raises for teachers in the contract is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2009.

Kintzele said a raise in starting teacher salaries will help bump up the pay of more experienced teachers in the school as well.

"We made a big effort to raise the starting pay for new teachers," he said.

Also, teachers will be given an extra 60 minutes a week with other teachers for collaboration. Smidt said that will help her spend more time with other teachers to create plans to help students achieve. For example, she said, she has a lunch period with three teachers in her department, and four teachers have the same prep period as her. But the prep period is often spent finishing lesson plans, grading papers and other duties.

Stark said the new contract will help make the schools better for students.

"That's really what it's all about," she said.

[lbl]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=39897.23

Wow! Congrats MC Teachers!!! You're makin' more than Duneland and Portage! You go Union!

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/...s/0206union.jpg

[Southsider2k12]

Just when you think people have understood the plight of our teachers, someone publishes a load of crap like this one. The reason the teachers got such a big "raise" is because they didn't get one for three years, not to mention they are being asked to work extra time. How many at the ND would be willing to go years without a raise, have management that talks bad about them publicly, and makes them work extra time for free, all in a school system judged to be one of the worst in the state?

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=22904

Teacher pay
Contract ups pay 13.5 percent

Editorial

Everyone wishes they had a Sugar Daddy like the Michigan City school board. The board negotiated a new contract with its teachers that gives them a 9 percent raise retroactive to Jan. 1, plus another 4.5 percent this August for an added hour of work per week. That means a starting teacher begins at $34,589 a year, and the top scale is $64,461. And high school teachers who teach a sixth class per day get an extra 10 percent, which puts their top scale at more than $70,000 a year.

There once was a day when teachers could complain about low wages. Not anymore. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development's figures showed that, for 2007, the average wage in La Porte County was $32,571 a year, so Michigan City teachers' starting pay is close to that average. But throughout their careers they proceed step by step up the pay scale so that they are well above average pay, and they enjoy probably the finest retirement package available.

Most Michigan City Area Schools teachers do a fine job and deserve to be well paid. Our better students do well in college and compete well with the best from other school districts, and that's a credit to our teachers.

And thanks to the generosity of the school board, they are handsomely rewarded. We should be happy for the teachers' good fortune.

The newest teacher contract, however, is in stark contrast to what many others in the workforce are experiencing. Most workers during this recession aren't wondering if they will get a raise. Many are not getting raises. Most people are worrying about even having a paycheck, as unemployment rose to 12.3 percent in March in Michigan City, and layoffs, cutbacks, furloughs and wage cuts continue.

The board of the Michigan City Area Schools is being mightly generous with taxpayers' money.

Our Opinion:
The Issue:

New contract raises top pay to $64,000.

Our Opinion:

Teachers do a great job, but their pay soars while most workers worry about even having a job.

[veryirishme]

Wow! I can't believe that the News Dispatch would stand behind these statements! How long have the teachers been without a pay raise? Do we believe that we should attract teachers to teach our children? How sad that our community feels this way about teachers?

Just when you think people have understood the plight of our teachers, someone publishes a load of crap like this one. The reason the teachers got such a big "raise" is because they didn't get one for three years, not to mention they are being asked to work extra time. How many at the ND would be willing to go years without a raise, have management that talks bad about them publicly, and makes them work extra time for free, all in a school system judged to be one of the worst in the state?

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=22904

[Southsider2k12]

Wow! I can't believe that the News Dispatch would stand behind these statements! How long have the teachers been without a pay raise? Do we believe that we should attract teachers to teach our children? How sad that our community feels this way about teachers?

You would think of all professions, newspapers could use people who can read!

[CaddyRich]

Wow! I can't believe that the News Dispatch would stand behind these statements! How long have the teachers been without a pay raise? Do we believe that we should attract teachers to teach our children? How sad that our community feels this way about teachers?

I didn't know there was anyone at the N/D with the stones to step out and make a statement like that; however misguided it is.

[lbl]

I didn't know there was anyone at the N/D with the stones to step out and make a statement like that; however misguided it is.

Well, I'm sure very few writers for the Paxton Media group get the salary packages the teachers are getting. Were you expecting blank objectivity? There's an opening for backlash and public controversy; the N-D seized it! They sell papers...it worked for Hearst!

[Ang]

Well, to me is sounds like it's dripping with tears. Oh, poor poor community, while our teachers get a raise from their sugar daddy. How stupid!

I can't believe Dave Hawk would even let this item get printed.

[CaddyRich]

Well, I'm sure very few writers for the Paxton Media group get the salary packages the teachers are getting. Were you expecting blank objectivity? There's an opening for backlash and public controversy; the N-D seized it! They sell papers...it worked for Hearst!

Actually, I was expecting the "shiny, happy, go to the beach, all is well" pablum that has been the norm from Our Fair Fishwrap.