Board OKs teacher pact

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By Christina Scanlon

The Granville Board of Education approved a four-year teacher contact at a special meeting Labor Day evening, hours before they were set to start the 2015-16 school year.

The haste came as a result of last week’s union ratification of the contract. Approval by the board means the new contract will go into effect for the first pay period of the new school year.

School superintendent Mark Bessen was pleased with negotiations. “It’s a move in the right direction for both parties,” he said.

Teachers will not see an immediate raise, but accelerated step increases, which will result a one-and-a-half step growth each year over the next four year.

The first four steps have been accelerated, with pay increases that are more comparable to other districts in the area. Pay at step five and above remains the same.

Bessen said the change will assist with recruitment and retention of teachers in the district. A math teacher position remains vacant because the district was unable to fill it.

The formerly 30-step contract has been reduced to 26 steps, also in alignment with other area districts.

Language in the contract previously limited the district in negotiations with insurance companies. New language, said Bessen, means the district will no longer be bound to one company.

“It gives us better options for futures bids and more flexibility,” he said.  Future savings in that area could be used for more equity in the pay scale, he said.

Teachers will also be working an additional hour per week.

“It’s all hands on deck,” said Bessen of the mandatory time used for curriculum, teaching practices and studying data at grade level.

“It gives teachers opportunity to collaborate,” he said. “Students, teachers…everyone is going to benefit from that.”

The contract was approved unanimously by the board. Negotiations will begin soon for the Granville Support Staff Association as that contact expires this school year.

 

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