MILFORD -ÊWawasee teachers now have contracts.

Tuesday, the Wawasee Community School Corp. Board of School Trustees approved the contract agreement. Superintendent Mark Stock said the Wawasee Community Educators Association membership ratified on Friday the agreements the two sides reached in mediation.

Key points of the contract include: 2.75 percent increase on the salary scale plus increment; 2 percent increase on extracurricular positions; three-year contract with openers each year for two language items in addition to wages and fringe benefits; sick leave reimbursement; federal, state laws and school board policy were included as grievable items but are only grievable as far as the school board and not subject to binding arbitration; changed prep time for teachers to a minimum number of minutes per week; provided a reimbursement for unused family illness days at one-half the substitute rate; and one payment holiday on group health insurance for all employees.

Board member Jeff Wells said he was glad the two sides could reach an agreement and said he hoped next year the agreement could be reached quicker without the need for a mediator. Marion Acton, board secretary, said he was also very appreciative of those who worked on the agreement.

"All in all I think it went ... pleasant the entire time," said board president Brian Dawes.

The contract agreement was unanimously approved.

Even with the new contracts, four Wawasee teachers may still get the pink slip.

Stock told the board the school corporation's enrollment is declining. The administration has studied the issue to see how best to address the problem and recommended the board give the administration more time to study the issue.

As it looks now, he said, four teaching positions may need to be cut. Stock has met with the four teachers affected.

In the next couple of days, in an effort to avoid letting any teacher go, Stock said a notice will go out to all Wawasee teachers asking if any of the teachers are considering not returning next year. If four teachers can be found who are not returning next year, no teacher would have to be given the pink slip.

"For the most part, the economy has affected us and our enrollment is down," said Stock. "... This is simply a declining enrollment issue."

According to statute, by April 15 the school corporation has to let teachers know in writing there will be teacher cuts. The board has to vote on the cuts by May 1.

School board attorney David Cates said Stock was telling the board about the cuts to meet the statutory requirements. "This is just the first step," he said.

Those Wawasee teachers returning next year may see a change in the grading policies.

Administrative assistant Joy Swartzentruber told the school board the committee for assessment for curriculum and teaching has been discussing a corporation-wide grading scale since November. The committee came up with three possible grading systems and the schools' faculty will give their input and opinions today on the three choices.

The first grading scale is the regular 90-, 80-, 70-percent grading scale. The second cuts off passing at 70 percent with the third grading scale cutting off passing at 65 percent.

Stock said grading systems vary from state to state, sometimes even school system to school system or classroom to classroom. He said there is no uniformity and no right or wrong way, but there is a consistency issue.

Now, it's become a Wawasee corporation issue, "so we'll see what will happen," Stock said.

When asked if any students have given their input into the matter, Stock said they have not done so formally. Wawasee High School Principal Alan Frank agreed, but said he is close enough to students and parents to have a sense of their opinions.

"They've spoken loud and clear and that's been part of the discussion," Frank said.

In other business, the school board:

• Approved the bid from Phend & Brown Inc. for the Wawasee High School track renovation. Their base bid was $131,805, not including alternates. Other bids included Brooks Construction, $193,675; NiBlock Excavating Inc., $126,800; and Rieth-Riley Construction, $190,400.

"(It's) pretty interesting to look at the wide bids on these," said Dawes.

• Agreed to hear short presentations at the April meeting from each Wawasee school on the schools' improvement plans as required by Public Law 221.

The plans must be sent to the state by June 30.

• Heard a report on textbook adoption. Selections will be presented to the board in April and approval for the textbooks will be sought in May. Textbook rental fees will increase because prices for reading textbooks have increased since the last adoption. The school corporation did not adopt a separate language program for grades three, four and five during the last adoption and teachers now feel this is necessary.

• Approved the retirement of Wawasee Middle School English teacher Russell Sonafrank, effective at the end of this school year.

Members of the school board are President Brian Dawes, vice president Carol Swartzendruber, secretary Marion Acton and members Jeff Wells and Dallas Winchester.

Their next meeting is at 7 p.m. at Syracuse Elementary School April 16. [[In-content Ad]]