The UAW may be on strike, but not all labor-management relations are that contentious. Clarkston School administration and employee unions get along just fine, approving new contracts Monday.
‘Both sides made good points, and both listened to the other, brainstormed ideas, made compromises,? said Brooke Davis, president of the Clarkston Education Association. ‘We worked really hard to get something done.?
Agreements for all school union employees include two-percent pay increases this year, and 1.5 percent raises next year. The year after, the contract calls for aone-percent raise in the first term, and another one-percent raise in the second. With the pay increase, teacher salaries this year range from $36,784-$89,020, based on education and time in service.
Third-year raises are contingent on a switch in insurance plans. According to the contract, if insurance costs are not kept to less than 6.8 percent of the district’s total general fund revenue, it will be open to renegotiation.
‘It’s a fair agreement given the tough economic times,? said Stephen Hyer, president of the Board of Education. ‘Two percent is right in line with cost of living.?
Another major issue was classroom scheduling. At the elementary level, special classes such as physical education and art will be grouped as much as possible to give teachers a continuous planning period, rather than two, separate periods.
The change will give teachers more opportunity to meet and work together, following the district’s Professional Learning Community model, Davis said.
‘We worked as hard on that as on insurance and salaries,? he said. ‘It’s been a long, difficult process, but in the end, both sides were satisfied.?
‘It’s a fair settlement for all employees,? Hyer said. ‘One reason we have a great district is our excellent employee groups.?