Published: October 04, 2008 03:23 am      

Tentative agreement reached for NA-FC teachers

After more than nine months without a contract, a three-year tentative agreement has been reached between the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. and the education association, which represents about 700 teachers.

That agreement includes a 2.5 percent raise for all three years, including last year, which would be paid retroactively. This contract covers the current school year as well as next.

“It’s very refreshing to know that I have [a tentative agreement] in my hands,” said Mark Kessans, president of the association.

But he’s not ready to celebrate just yet.

“It’s been an uphill road all the way, literally, to the [end],” he said, adding that in the last hour the deal almost fell through Friday. “The school board could turn it down. I certainly hope not. I’m not going to feel relieved or take my guard down until it’s actually signed by the board on [Oct.] 13th.”

First, the teachers have to ratify the deal. The association will have a meeting at 4 p.m., Tuesday, at New Albany High School, to go over the details with the teachers. Teachers will vote the following day whether to accept it at their schools.

If the majority votes to accept, it will go to the board, who can finalize or reject it.

Kessans said he’s agreed only to release the details at Tuesday’s meeting, but did say the teachers received an increase in their 401(a) plans and an agreement on elementary planning time was reached.

He said the 2.5 percent raise is certainly fair, but nothing to brag about. He said it should not have taken so long to reach that agreement, adding that the time has hurt morale.

The corporation agrees that this needs to be solved more quickly in the future.

“We think it’s a fair contract and both the administration and the association need to do a better job of improving relationships so that we don’t get to this point again,” said Dave Rarick, director of communications for NA-FC.