Ridgec e School Di p e

Teache A ca

Bac g dI f a
-Rep in of a ecen , idel ead a icle in T e R dgec e Ga e e-
The ne o nd of nego ia ion be een he Boa d of Ed ca ion and he Teache A ocia ion i
ched led fo he e ening of A g 31, he e ening befo e he opening da of he chool ea
(Sep embe 1) in Ridgec e . The con ac be een he Ridgec e Teache A ocia ion ( hich
ep e en he eache in Ridgec e ) and Ridgec e School Di ic e pi ed on J ne 30. Since
hen, he Boa d of Ed ca ion and ep e en a i e of he Teache A ocia ion ha e me on
e e al occa ion in an a emp o finali e a con ac , b he e a emp ha e no been
cce f l.

If ei he pa e e o decla e an impa e af e he final o nd of nego ia ion , hen he a e

o ld p o ide a media o ; if he pa ie ill co ld no ag ee, hen he o ld en e fac finding
(e en iall , non-binding a bi a ion) and a i en epo o ld be made p blic; and if an
ag eemen ill co ld no be eached, hen he a e o ld appoin a pe concilia o
(e en iall , ano he media o ). P io o J ne 30 and d ing he mme mon h , he e a
inc ea ing alk among he membe hip of he Teache A ocia ion of he de i abili of calling
a ike if he con ac a no finali ed b opening da . While i i e ha a chool boa d can
of en ge a co o de p e en ing eache f om iking, i i al o e ha emo ion in
Ridgec e a e nning high, and eache ike ha e been kno n o happen de pi e co o de .
Ho e e , he leade hip of he Teache A ocia ion ha ag eed, fo he benefi of he
comm ni , o main ain no mal ope a ion h o gho he em ( i ho a con ac ) a da -
-da ba . Thi i in e pon e o pa en p e e o main ain no mal ope a ion . Pa en ha e
been placing p e e on bo h eache and he boa d o keep he chool ope a ing.

Fo he pa o con ec i e ea , o e ha e defea ed efe end m fo inc ea ed a e o

co e na oidable b dge a inc ea e . D e o dec ea e in en ollmen and in income f om a e
and fede al aid, a ell a inc ea ed co , main enance of he chool b dge a pa i h he
p e io ea o ld p od ce a 4.08% b dge a ho fall, hich he Boa d feel o ld begin o
e ha b dge a ca ego ie beginning in he coming Ap il. The efo e, he Boa d feel ha
p og am and pe onnel m be c hile, a he ame ime, p od c i i ( o kload) of eache
m be inc ea ed if he em i o f nc ion effec i el i hin i b dge a con ain o he
end (J ne 30) of he c en fi cal ea . The di ic i manda ed b a e la o p o ide 180
in c ional da d ing he chool ea .

The Boa d of Ed ca ion i ca gh be een he Teache A ocia ion and comm ni p e e

g o p . Boa d membe , ho a e elec ed b no paid, belie e ha he m a i f he e
pe e g o p , hile a he ame ime keeping he eache on he job i h a con ac ha i
accep able o he ba gaining ni membe hip. The boa d i conce ned ha if i fail o e pond

1
app op ia el o comm ni p e e fo co ed c ion , i ma be emo ed. The boa d
p ima objec i e, he efo e, i o c co hile e aining a man p og am a po ible. I
hope o do o h o gh c back in eaching pe onnel and benefi . The boa d al o i he o
elimina e ce ain e i ing ag eemen o inc ea e p od c i i . In hi connec ion, he boa d
an o nego ia e a h ee- ea con ac ha ill abili e he i a ion b c ea ing o de l and
p edic able b dge a need ha ill be le likel o be een a e ce i e b a io comm ni
g o p . In con a , he Teache A ocia ion an o ob ain a one- ea con ac o main ain
fle ibili .

The Teache A ocia ion al o feel ca gh be een comm ni p e e g o p , ho an o

a e a ike, and he boa d appa en n illingne o figh fo inc ea ed b dge alloca ion o
n he em. The eache feel he boa d ha no faced p o he comm ni n illingne o
accep inc ea ed a a ion o pa fo ed ca ion, and ha he boa d i impl e ponding o
comm ni n illingne b pa ing he b den along o eache .

No mall , a e la lea e i e ch a ed c ion in aff en i el a he chool boa d

di c e ion (i.e., he canno be nego ia ed). The go e no , ho e e , ha j igned a ne la
(pa ed o e he ong objec ion of he a e chool boa d a ocia ion) ha allo he
eache nion in one chool di ic in he a e, a an e pe imen , o nego ia e o e all fo
i e in ol ed in hi nego ia ion. Mo eo e , an igned ag eemen ha e l f om he e
nego ia ion ill be legall enfo ceable. The Ridgec e Teache A ocia ion applied fo and
a g an ed pe mi ion fo Ridgec e o be ha one chool di ic . A pa of he ne
e pe imen al la ha no applie o Ridgec e , he Ridgec e Boa d of Ed ca ion ha n il he
opening da of chool o finali e i b dge . In addi ion, nde he ne la , an in ol n a
ed c ion in eaching aff if ag eed o b he nion m ill compl i h p io a e la on
en e and enio i . Tha i , n en ed eache m be laid off fi b can be laid off in an
o de . Among en ed eache (e en iall , an one i h h ee ea and one da of e pe ience),
ho e e , all eache in a lo e ep m be laid off befo e an one in a highe ep can be laid
off. Teache a oma icall mo e p a ep af e each ea on he job.

Ridgec e i an a e age- i ed, ela i el e led, and able ppe -middle-income comm ni ,
i h a ong in e e in q ali ed ca ion, b i di inclined o inc ea e i al ead b den ome
a a e. Like he a e a a hole, Ridgec e ha a high co of li ing. The Ridgec e School
Di ic con i of 8 chool : 6 elemen a chool (K-8) and 2 enio high chool . The den
pop la ion i 6,200, i h 4,135 elemen a and 2,065 high chool den . The ba gaining ni
con i of 315 elemen a eache in all ca ego ie and 144 high- chool eache in all
ca ego ie .

Bo h ide i h o concl de an ag eemen o a e a e in ol emen (o a ike). Ho e e , he

Teache A ocia ion ba gaining eam i adaman l commi ed o imp o ing he lo of i
membe hip, and he boa d i j a commi ed o keeping i co a lo a po ible.
Ne e hele , each ide feel i ha ome oom o mo e on ce ain i e .

The follo ing h ee official able accompanied he R dgec e Ga e e a icle and a e a ailable
in p in o all pa ie .

2
 Tab e 1. Ridgec e School Di ic Teache Sala Sched le

La Yea C en Yea
N mbe of N mbe of
S ep Amo n Teache Co Teache Co
1 $38,000 26 $988,000 0 $0
2 $39,000 20 $780,000 25 $975,000
3 $40,000 30 $1,200,000 19 $760,000
4 $41,000 22 $902,000 26 $1,066,000
5 $42,000 31 $1,302,000 22 $924,000
6 $44,600 38 $1,694,800 31 $1,382,600
7 $47,000 30 $1,410,000 38 $1,786,000
8 $50,100 22 $1,102,200 29 $1,452,900
9 $53,400 29 $1,548,600 22 $1,174,800
10 $55,400 30 $1,662,000 27 $1,495,800
11 $57,300 16 $916,800 30 $1,719,000
12 $59,000 15 $885,000 15 $885,000
13 $60,700 13 $789,100 15 $910,500
14 $62,100 10 $621,000 11 $683,100
15 $63,500 9 $571,500 10 $635,000
16 $65,600 10 $656,000 7 $459,200
17 $67,700 8 $541,600 10 $677,000
18 $70,100 9 $630,900 6 $420,600
19 $73,700 7 $515,900 6 $442,200
20 $77,500 107 $8,292,500 110 $8,525,000
To al 482 $27,009,900 459 $26,373,700

Tab e 2. Ridgec e School Di ic Teache Age

C en Yea
a
Age Range N mbe of Teache Re i emen Eligibili
22-46 371 No eligible.
Mo a e likel eligible fo ea l e i emen , b pen ion
47-54 28
o ld be c b 3% fo each ea nde he age of 55.

55-70 60 P obabl all a e eligible fo ea l o eg la e i emen .

No penal ie if eligible.
To al 459 --
a
La f b d d g a f a c a ce e (e.g., ca h e e a ce) b c ch
eache e cha ge f he a g ea eg a e e e .

3
 Tab e 3. Ridgec e School Di ic B dge

La Yea C en Yea
J l 1-J n 30 J l 1-J n 30
Ac al A di P ojec ed No e
Re e e
Local p ope a $68,022,021 $68,295,244 a
S a e aid $9,060,136 $8,835,494
Fede al g an $1,687,329 $1,468,536
TOTAL REVENUE $78,769,486 $78,599,274

E e d e
Sala ie of eache $27,009,900 $26,373,700 b
Sala ie of aide $2,085,731 $2,153,076
Te book and pplie $1,365,124 $1,941,977 c, d
P cha ed e ice $102,601 $112,189
To al: In c ion $30,563,356 $30,580,942

Sala ie of o he p ofe ional aff $983,484 $1,023,724

P cha ed aining e ice $193,729 $200,056
To al: Imp o emen of In c ional S c . $1,177,213 $1,223,780 e

Sala ie fo e ac ic la ac i i ie $272,301 $282,786

Ma e ial and pplie $20,719 $28,066 d
To al: E ac ic la Ac i i ie $293,020 $310,852

Sala ie fo a hle ic $427,513 $447,484

Ma e ial and pplie $167,652 $175,198
To al: A hle ic $595,165 $622,682

Sala ie of den ppo p ofe ional $3,761,263 $3,889,045 f

Sala ie of cle ical/ ec e a ie $350,369 $377,784
P cha ed e ice ( peciali ) $813,700 $838,446
Ma e ial and pplie $148,194 $214,053 d
To al: S den S ppo Se ice $5,073,526 $5,319,328

Sala ie of chool n e $727,172 $807,341

P cha ed p ofe ional & echnical e ice $67,607 $68,197
Ma e ial and pplie $17,916 $18,730
To al: Heal h Se ice $812,695 $894,268

Sala ie of lib a ian / ed ca ional media aff $713,818 $773,014 g

Ma e ial and pplie $119,468 $157,605 d
To al: Ed c l Media Se ice /School Lib a $833,286 $930,619
C ed e age

4
 Tab e 3. Ridgec e School Di ic B dge C ed

La Yea C en Yea
J l 1-J n 30 J l 1-J n 30
Ac al A di P ojec ed No e
Sala ie fo gene al admini a ion $1,883,023 $1,983,967
Sala ie of cle ical/ ec e a ie $83,277 $86,608
Legal e ice $179,221 $184,494
Comm nica ion / elephone $270,405 $279,028
Ma e ial and pplie $308,608 $402,004 d
Mi cellaneo e pendi e $563,984 $575,213
To al: Gene al Admini a ion $3,288,518 $3,511,314

Sala ie of p incipal /a i an p incipal $2,057,932 $2,146,188

Sala ie of o he p ofe ional aff $19,992 $21,588
Sala ie of cle ical/ ec e a ie $1,285,810 $1,325,063
P cha ed e ice $0 $200,000 h
Ma e ial and pplie $108,526 $142,210 d
To al: School Admini a ion $3,472,260 $3,835,049

Sala ie fo plan ope a ion /main enance $3,632,806 $3,742,402

Cleaning/ epai /main enance e ice $243,807 $500,894 i
P cha ed e ice , p ofe ional & echnical $481,113 $506,550
In ance $438,853 $489,786
Ma e ial and pplie $149,535 $155,118
Ene g (hea and elec ici ) $1,713,856 $1,998,402 j
To al: Plan Ope a ion/Main enance $6,659,970 $7,393,152

Sala ie fo p pil an po coo dina ion $74,961 $78,634

P cha ed e ice $3,262,524 $3,554,649 k
Ma e ial and pplie $100,766 $102,781
To al: S den T an po a ion $3,438,251 $3,736,064

Social Sec i and Medica e con ib ion $996,530 $1,038,174 l

Wo kmen compen a ion $277,778 $299,340
Heal h benefi $10,117,070 $10,914,664 m
O he emplo ee benefi $295,140 $323,564
To al: Emplo ee Benefi $11,686,518 $12,575,742

Eq ipmen $207,456 $193,813

Facili ie acq i i ion and con c ion e ice $1,171,939 $1,093,206 n
To al: Capi al O la $1,379,395 $1,287,019
C ed e age

5
 Tab e 3. Ridgec e School Di ic B dge C ed

La Yea C en Yea
J l 1-J n 30 J l 1-J n 30
Ac al A di P ojec ed No e
O -of-di ic i ion $3,674,983 $3,898,099 o
S a e and fede al p ojec $2,157,254 $2,100,133 p
F nd fo cha e chool $861,133 $897,258 q
To al: E e nall De igna ed F nd $6,693,370 $6,895,490

To al: Deb Se ice $2,802,943 $3,138,988

TOTAL EXPENDITURES $78,769,486 $82,255,289

N e Tab e 3:

a Local p ope a a e fo chool i $1.65 pe $100 of a e ed eal p ope . A e men i

a f ll al e. Gi en he a e of he egion econom , a e ed al e a e e pec ed o ei he
emain able o go do n in he fo e eeable f e.

b T en - h ee eache f om la ea did no e n o he em fo hi c en ea (i.e.,

he lef he em nea l o mon h ago, on J ne 30) d e o ei he e i emen o o he
ea on . Teache ala ie a e paid o e he co e of 10 mon h (Sep embe 1 o J ne 30).

c Ne e book a e needed o compl i h e en i e a e-manda ed c ic l m change .

d E en af e i ching o a lo -co pplie , co of ma e ial and pplie ill be p

d ama icall o e la ea co ba ed la gel on he i ing co of pape . S i ching o
elec onic ol ion o ld co e en mo e mone in he ho n and inc ea e he c en
ea defici .

e Incl de mainl c ic l m de elopmen .

f S den ppo p ofe ional incl de g idance co n elo , p chologi , b ance ab e

coo dina o , ocial o ke , and peech he api .

g Ed ca ional media aff incl de a chool a dio i al echnician and ed ca ional

comp ing aff. The e po i ion end no o eq i e a e ce ifica ion, he ea lib a ian do.

h Incl de $200,000 in c en ea fo co of con l an o de elop a p oced e fo a igning

e a obliga ion of eache .

i Incl de $250,000 fo o e d e, defe ed main enance.

j Co of ili ie i e pec ed o inc ea e d ama icall d e o a e inc ea e e b eg la o .

6
k T an po a ion co a e p d e o inc ea e in ope a ing and main enance co .

l The a e no Ridgec e pa he emplo e con ib ion fo Social Sec i (6.2% of

ala , p o he ma im m dolla amo n eq i ed) and Medica e (1.45%) fo all eache ,
fo me eache ill emplo ed b Ridgec e , and man emplo ee ho e po i ion eq i e
a e ce ifica ion. The a e al o pa he emplo e e i emen con ib ion fo he e
emplo ee , a ell a fo c odian . Ridgec e pa he emplo e con ib ion fo Social
Sec i and Medica e on ala ie of emplo ee ho e po i ion do no eq i e a e
ce ifica ion, ch a aide , ec e a ie , c odian , ome admini a o , e c. In addi ion,
Ridgec e pa he emplo e e i emen con ib ion ( o he emplo ee benefi ) fo
he e emplo ee , i h he e cep ion of c odian ( ho e emplo e e i emen
con ib ion a e paid fo b he a e).

m Applie o all 783 c en emplo ee , all of hom a e f ll ime (459 eache , 88 aide , 53
den ppo p ofe ional , 37 ec e a ie , 12 n e , 9 lib a ian /media aff, 25 gene al
admini a o , 18 p incipal o a i an p incipal , 81 c odian , and 1 p pil an po a ion
coo dina o ).

n Beca e of p e io commi men , hi amo n i no nego iable fo he c en ea .

o T i ion i fo pecial ed ca ion den ho e need canno be add e ed in-di ic . The

amo n i e b he o he di ic co .

p S a e and fede al p ojec a e a ge ed p ojec paid en i el b fede al g an o a e aid

ea ma ked olel fo ho e p ojec .

q The amo n of f nd an fe ed o he cha e chool can onl be changed b he ae

legi la e.

To al n mbe of p pil : 6,200 (c en ea ); 6,510 (la ea )

To al n mbe of eache : 459 (c en ea ); 482 (la ea )

Pe p pil e pendi e: $13,267 (c en ea ); $12,100 (la ea )

7
 C f de a I f a
-Teache A ocia ion Po i ion-

Yo and o eamma e a e he ba gaining eam fo he Ridgec e Teache A ocia ion.

Membe of o eam ma f nc ion in an capaci ha he eam decide pon. Fo e ample,
o a e f ee o elec one o mo e of o membe o e e a chief nego ia o ( ) ep e en ing
o ide in con ac nego ia ion i h he Ridgec e School Di ic . T o p epa e fo he
iming and pace of hi nego ia ion o ill ha e h ee ho pli ac o o e ion in o al,
hich o can e o ca c i h o eamma e , nego ia e i h he o he ide, e c. T o e
all of ha ime a egicall o ge he be po ible deal fo o ide. Co e pondence and/o
di c ion i h he o he eam befo e he a of he nego ia ion a e no pe mi ed.

If o hink of an n mbe ha o o ld like o be able o calc la e fo hi nego ia ion b

canno , fi be e ha o canno calc la e he fig e di ec l f om he info ma ion o
al ead ha e. If o canno do o di ec l , hen do o be o come p i h a ea onable,
defen ible fo m la and make be -g e calc la ion fo a io b dge i e . T o minimi e
an eal- o ld e ea ch, ho e e , a hi end o hinde he p oce . Befo e o in eg a e an
o ide n mbe in o nego ia ion, o m each ag eemen i h he boa d ha he n mbe
a e accep able.

A indica ed in o Backg o nd Info ma ion hee , he p e io con ac i h he chool

di ic ha e pi ed. I i no a da befo e he beginning of he chool ea . A a e l of a io
comm ni p e e , he Teache A ocia ion ha ag eed o e n o o k on a da - o-da
ba i , i h he p o i ion ha i i f ee o decla e an impa e leading o a e in e en ion (o ,
h be old, decla e an immedia e ike) a an ime a long a he con ac i no finali ed. In
hi ega d, he ba gaining eam ha con ide ed e e al op ion anging f om calling in he a e
o media e (a mo e ha ma be een b bo h eache and he comm ni a a fail e on o
pa ) o a em- ide ike o a a ie of mo e limi ed ac ion . Info ma ion a ailable o o
indica e ha a majo i of he membe hip p efe o concl de an ag eemen b i illing, if
nece a , o impa e, and e en o engage in an immedia e ike ac ion. The emainde of he
membe hip i pli , in ha one bg o p an o a oid an ike, hile a econd g o p i
p e ing o call one immedia el . Yo , along i h he o he membe of o eam, p efe o
concl de a con ac a he han decla e an impa e o ike, b o a e ead o engage in ei he
of he e o choice if nece a e en if o pe onall ha e o pend ome mbolic ime in
jail. Yo a e a a e of inc ea ing comm ni p e e on o a ocia ion and on he chool
boa d o concl de an ag eemen o a e a e in e en ion o he clo ing of he chool . The
Teache A ocia ion membe hip i a a e of he b dge c being impo ed on he di ic .
Ho e e , i ha ce ain demand ha i feel a e j ified and ea onable in ligh of he inc ea ed
co of li ing and ecen gain ecei ed b Teache A ocia ion in neighbo ing comm ni ie .

In gene al, he ba gaining eam an o a oid a i a ion he e he Teache A ocia ion lo e

benefi ha ha e been gained o e he pa e e al ea . In hi connec ion, o feel ha he
Boa d of Ed ca ion i e en iall ing o ed ce aff o mee e e nall impo ed b dge a
ed c ion and, a he ame ime, ob ain a con ide able inc ea e in eache o kload o he
boa d can look good o he comm ni . Yo feel ha he boa d i a emp ing o pa he

8
b den of he b dge c along o eache a he han appo ioning hem in an eq i able manne .
Man membe of he a ocia ion al o an ala inc ea e ha , a he e lea , a e fficien
o off e he i e in co of li ing. Man eache a e illing o ha e ome e pon ibili in he
c ing of he b dge and a e illing o make a ea onable con ib ion o hi end. A i eable
po ion of he membe hip i illing o accep an inc ea e in o kload, p o ided ha he
inc ea e a e ea onable and ha he ha e ome choice a o ho hi o ld be accompli hed.
Ho e e , i i fel ha he boa d i a king eache o inc mo of he co , make mo of he
c , make mo of he ac ifice and eeking o e ain i p e oga i e o make all deci ion in
he e ma e .

To be clea : he boa d ha di c e iona po e o an fe f nd among b dge a ca ego ie if

he need a i e . Tha i , he chool boa d ha l ima e deci ion-making e pon ibili fo he
e e chool b dge , no j he eache po ion. Like an managemen eam, ho e e , he
boa d ope a e i hin legal and o he con ain and m be able o ppo and defend i
deci ion . A in an nego ia ion, o info ma ion ma be incomple e.

Neg a e:
The i e ha emain o be e led fall in o fo gene al ca ego ie :

1. Sala
2. Wo kload
3. Red c ion in aff
4. Benefi

The e gene al ca ego ie a e anked (abo e) in o de of impo ance o he eache . Follo ing a
long and con en io mee ing, he membe hip ag eed o hi anking. Af e ea of neglec ing
he op o i e of ala and o kload, he majo i of eache no appa en l feel ha
inc ea ing hei ala ie and holding he line on o kload a e e en mo e impo an hi ime han
conce n abo p e en ing and minimi ing aff ed c ion . The ba gaining eam po i ion on
pecific i e i hin he e ca ego ie i pelled o belo . The e i em i hin each ca ego a e
no anked b impo ance; i.e., he a e li ed in no pa ic la o de i hin hei ca ego . All of
he i e in di p e a e nego iable in Ridgec e .

1. Sa a . The Teache A ocia ion an he follo ing:

1.1 Sa a c ea e. The Teache A ocia ion an ac o - he-boa d inc ea e in he

ala ched le: To eq ali e ala ie i h (and emain compe i i e i h) eache in
o nding, compa able chool di ic , he membe hip o ld p efe adding $6,000-
$7,000 o ala ie a he lo e le el , compa ed o an addi ional $12,000-$14,000 a he
ppe le el of he ala ched le. Info ma ion a ailable o he ba gaining eam gge
ha he e fig e a e fle ible a long a p ono nced ineq i ie a e b o gh in o line i h
ho e of o nding di ic . Fo e ample, he eache o ld con ide ha ing in ead a
$10,000 ac o - he-boa d inc ea e fo e e ep in he ala ched le. Again, he e ac
amo n can be fle ible, b he eache an he e ala inc ea e no , fo he c en
chool ea . An dela in ge ing ai e o ld be een a a big lo .

9
1.2 C - f- g c ea e. In addi ion o he inc ea e men ioned abo e in poin 1.1, he
membe hip al o p efe a co -of-li ing inc ea e commen a e i h he egional
inc ea e in co of li ing d ing he p e io ea . Ho e e , info ma ion a ailable o he
ba gaining eam gge ha he membe hip migh be illing o accep ei he a
diffe en ial fo m la o one p o iding a ea onable pe cen age of he f ll inc ea e in co
of li ing in e change fo conce ion on o he i e .

2. W ad. The ba gaining eam ha info ma ion indica ing ha he membe hip an
he follo ing:

2.1 W da . The p e en o e all o kda , a e abli hed in he la con ac , i 7 ho and

5 min e long. P io o ha con ac , i had been 8 ho long. C en l , he 7 ho 5
min. incl de 5 ho 25 min. (325 min.) fo eaching and e a a ignmen , and 100
min e fo d -f ee ime ( ee belo fo de ail ). Al ho gh he e a e ong feeling in
he membe hip again an fo mal o e all inc ea e, he ba gaining eam feel ha i
migh ag ee o ce ain limi ed inc ea e , pa ic la l he e indi id al eache
ol n a il ag ee o a me addi ional e pon ibili ie . The ba gaining eam i he o e
hi op ion a a le e o gain conce ion on o he i e . Yo ha e hea d ha , if he
boa d i cce f l in leng hening he eache o kda , hen i i con ide ing al o
leng hening he chool da fo den b e ending each cla pe iod. Yo o ld ha e
e io e e a ion abo ch a change, beca e i o ld eq i e mo e o k b eache
and beca e i o ld fo ce af e - chool e ac ic la ac i i ie o end la e in he da
fo bo h den and eache . In an e en , o a e a nchl oppo ed o fo cing
eache o each and p epa e fo mo e cla e d pe da , a mo e hich o ld
in ol e a lo mo e o k fo eache han j ligh l longe cla pe iod . Yo do b
ha he boa d ill a k fo ch a conce ion, ho gh, beca e i co ld e io l ha m he
q ali of den ed ca ion and o ld p Ridgec e oo fa o of ep i h
neighbo ing o n .

2.2 D -f ee e. Teache c en l ha e 100 min e of d -f ee ime. Thi ime

incl de 25 min e fo l nch. D ing he emaining 75 min e , eache p epa e fo
cla e . Some eache al o p o ide indi id al d ime fo den , g ade pape ,
p epa e le on plan , a end mee ing , o confe i h o he eache . Thi ime al o
incl de he acc m la ed b eak ime fo eache , ince he do no ha e b eak d ing
he da . M ch of he membe hip feel a he ongl abo e aining hi ime a i
b he ba gaining eam feel ha i migh be able o offe a nominal ed c ion on a
o a ional o o he i e ha ed ba i . The ba gaining eam feel ha an conce ion on
hi i e ho ld ield app op ia e conce ion in e n.

2.3 C a . The ba gaining eam ha info ma ion indica ing ha he chool boa d i
abo o hi e a con l an o de elop a p oced e fo a igning e a obliga ion , ch a
b d , di ciplina d , cafe e ia d , pla g o nd d , cl b ad i ing, coaching
a hle ic , commi ee e ice, and moni o ing and chape oning af e - chool a hle ic, e a-
c ic la , and ocial ac i i ie . The membe hip i a of hi app oach and doe no
an o hi e a con l an .

10
3. Red c S aff. The Teache A ocia ion an he follo ing:

3.1 La ff . Minimal and elec i e ed c ion in aff. Yo al o collec ed mo e info ma ion

and kno ha none of he c en eache a e in e e ed in changing job (e.g., i ching
o admini a i e po i ion , man of hich eq i e addi ional ce ifica ion an a ).

3.2 P / eache a . The p e en em- ide a io i app o ima el 13.5 o 1. Ho e e ,

hi fig e i an a e age, encompa ing ome malle and ome la ge cla e , a ell a
non-cla oom eache , ch a eading peciali . All fig e he e and in he b dge
incl de bo h eg la and pecial ed ca ion, i.e., he e fig e a e a eigh ed a e age of
bo h pe of in c ion. The membe hip an o hold he o e all a io a i p e en
le el (o e en ed ce i ), b migh be illing o accep an inc ea e in ce ain pe of
cla e in e change fo conce ion on o he p io i i e .

3.3 Dec e . Yo hink ha la off of indi id al n en ed eache ho ld be join l

de e mined on a ca e-b -ca e ba i b ep e en a i e of he Teache A ocia ion and
he Boa d of Ed ca ion.

3.4 Se e a ce a . Se e ance pa o an laid-off eache ho ld la fo a lea half of he

chool ea (i.e., fo fi e mon h ), ince i ma be diffic l fo he e eache o find ne
job a hi la e da e. While in i ing ch a afe ne eem o o o be a ma e of
fai ne and ba ic h man decenc , o a e illing o be fle ible, ince o kno ha
anda d p ac ice in co po a ion i of en o offe onl one eek pa fo each ea of
p io e ice.

In gene al, he eache o ld lo e o minimi e la off h o gh ac i a ion of ea l

e i emen , b financial incen i e fo ea l e i emen a e illegal, and he deci ion o
e i e i a ol n a one made b each indi id al eache ho i eligible, no b he
nion; i.e., he n mbe of people ho ill e i e i nego iable i can onl be
e ima ed. Unfo na el , p obabl none of hi ea e ning eache ho a e eligible
fo e i emen o ld be in e e ed in e i ing immedia el i ho ome o of addi ional
incen i e, and e en if ha a legal, ce ainl no mo e han 20 eligible eache o ld be
illing o e i e immedia el an a . In he long e m (af e he e nego ia ion ), he
Teache A ocia ion o ld like o o k i h he chool boa d o epeal he a e la
ba ing e plici ea l e i emen incen i e , ince he ba gaining eam i e confiden
ha 10 enio eache o ld be illing, e en no , o e i e immedia el if e e one
eligible a offe ed a fai l mode incen i e ( a , $15,000 pe pe on, fo a likel o al
co of $150,000) o , al e na i el , an addi ional 10 enio eache fo a o al of 20 in
all o ld do o if e e one eligible a offe ed a mo e gene o incen i e ( a ,
$30,000 pe pe on, fo a likel o al co of $600,000). In he ho e m, he Teache
A ocia ion an ep e en a ion in la off deci ion and ma imi a ion of e e ance pa
o affec ed eache . Wi hin he e o e all membe hip p efe ence , ho e e , he
ba gaining eam ecogni e a need o emain fle ible o make ade-off he e e
nece a .

11
4. Be ef . The Teache A ocia ion an he follo ing:

4.1 Hea h a ce. Yo ha e hea d ha he boa d o ld like o i ch eache co e age

f om adi ional in ance o heal h main enance o gani a ion (HMO ). Yo a e oppo ed
o ch a i ch, beca e ha o ld mean ha eache o ld ha e le in ance
co e age, fe e choice fo doc o , medical e , e c. On he o he hand, HMO eem o
be he end in he U.S., a i making emplo ee pa fo a highe ha e of hei heal h-
ca e co e age. C en l , he boa d con ib e 90% (=$13,940 pe eache ) of he o al
ann al co fo heal h ca e co e age fo eache , and he eache ha e he emaining
10% (=$1,549 pe eache ) ded c ed f om hei ann al ala .

4.2 Acc a ed c ea e e e e .B a e, all eache ecei e 10 da of

ick lea e pe ea . Up n il no , Ridgec e ha paid f ll ala fo one o of e e fo
acc m la ed n ed ick da pon e i emen , i h a ma im m o al of $7,500. In ligh
of he fac ha eache in mo o nding comm ni ie ill ecei e compa able
pa men fo n ed ick lea e pon e i emen , he Ridgec e membe hip feel i i
al o en i led o e ain ch benefi . Ho e e , he ba gaining eam belie e ha a io
ed c ion in he fo m la can be de i ed ha migh be accep able o he membe hip if
conce ion on o he p io i i e e e fo hcoming f om he boa d. The e migh
incl de a lo e pe cen age of acc m la ed ick lea e, a lo e ma im m amo n ,
pa men ke ed o ea of e ice, and o on. The ba gaining eam al o ee po ibili ie
of pha ing in ch benefi o e e e al ea .

No e ha , if a eache decide o ake lea e, a b i e eache ill need o be hi ed and

paid fo he ime he eg la eache i o of o k. In addi ion, he Famil Medical
Lea e Ac of 1993 en i le eligible emplo ee o ake p o 12 eek of npaid, job-
p o ec ed lea e in a 12-mon h pe iod fo pecified famil and medical ea on , ch a
he bi h and ca e of a ne bo n o he adop ion of a child.

12