Westfield teachers, corporation approve new master contract

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Baldwin
Baldwin

Westfield Washington teachers and the school corporation have agreed on a new master contract, the first under new state laws and language. The contract was ratified Sept. 16 by the school board and Sept. 19 by the teachers union.

Chris Baldwin, Westfield Washington Schools’ human resources executive director, said negotiations went well during contract talks.

“Overall, the tone and tenor were what we pride ourselves on,” he said.

The new contract provides pay increases for teachers and extracurricular coach stipends.

“This is something that’s been needed,” Baldwin said. “Because of the constraints from the funding formula, this is the best we can do for our teachers.”

“Both sides did a remarkable job making it beneficial for everybody in the schools and community and worked hard at it,” Supt. Dr. Mark Keen said.

Officials said one of the new state laws since the last agreement require contracts to be within the budget cycle. This contract is for one year.

“It’s one or two years from now on,” Baldwin said. “It is retroactive to the start of the school year (and runs) to June 30 (2015).”

Keen said the district has had contracts from three to seven years.

Negotiators from the Westfield Classroom Teachers Association said the law change has caused a new format for salaries and fund allocations.

“It’s a conversion from one pay scale to another. You don’t understand until you look at your salary and what it does to your salary,” said Wayne Shipe, lead negotiator for the WCTA, adding the stipends the district provided will soften the blow.

With a new salary system, Baldwin said the district had create new levels but said no teacher would make less than they did last year. In fact, Baldwin said to be as equal and fair as possible, a stipend was created.

“All teachers will receive a $1,300 increase for this year,” he said.

The new state laws only allow up to 33 percent of a teacher’s salary to be based on education and experience.

“We’d love for Westfield to get the funds it truly needs. We’re not seeing a big pay increase not because of leadership here or the school board doesn’t want it, it’s because the funding isn’t there,” WTCA President Martessa Conover said.

Another change to the contract is that the district now offers a high deductible option along with the standard PPO. Baldwin said the district pays 70 percent of the standard deductible and 75 percent of the high deductible. In addition to a healh savings account, the district offers an onsite clinic which is free to employees and their families at no cost.

Baldwin said the salaries should be adjusted by the Oct. 5 payment.


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