Published: April 24, 2008 09:56 am            

NA-FC School Corporation, teachers continue salary talks

The New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. and the education association that represents about 700 of its employees have been working with a state-appointed mediator in the collective-bargaining process.

The teachers’ contract expired in December; however, it will remain effective until a new agreement is made. If the sides fail to make progress with the mediator, a state-appointed fact-finder will be brought in to issue a nonbinding recommendation.

The corporation is posting updates on the bargaining process through its Web site. At the last bargaining session April 15, the corporation offered a 2 percent salary increase, retroactive to the beginning of the 2007 school year and two options for the 2008 school year. One was a 2 percent compensation package to be used for pay raises, the 401(a) retirement plan and/or to hire staff to increase planning time. The other option was a 2.3 percent compensation package to be used for pay raises, the 401(a) retirement plan and/or to hire staff to increase planning time. In addition to option two, teachers would pay an additional 1 percent toward their total health insurance premium.

Doug Taylor, president of the Education Association, said the association is seeking a 3.5 percent increase in pay for the first year, a 3 percent raise for the second year and a .25 percent increase in the amount of money matched by the corporation on what teachers put into their individual 401(a). He also said they are seeking more planning time for elementary teachers and reduced class sizes.

The next bargaining date has not yet been scheduled.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.