Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - Manchester Community Schools teachers today are working under a salary and benefit contract for the first time in two years.
A master agreement between Manchester Teachers Association and school administration was reached and approved at Tuesday's board meeting.
The contract was settled through interest-based bargaining, where teachers and administration attempted to work toward achieving their common goals.
The new contract gives teachers 15 leave days that can be split between personal or family illness and business days off at the teachers' behest.
In the past, teachers were assigned a certain number of leave days per excuse.
School superintendent Diane Showalter commented that though some administration members fear the number of unspecified leave days could be taken advantage of, she believes that will not happen.
"Trust was the word I pitched out the most (during negotiations)," Showalter said. "If I'm asking people to trust me, I have to trust that the teachers will be professional and not abuse those days."
Teachers did not receive base salary increase, though annual incremental raises were given.
Showalter expressed the desire to negotiate further contracts through collective bargaining, which she called "collegial" and "collaborative."
In other business, school business manager Pat Brandenburg told the board the 2003-2004 budget will not likely be approved until spring.
According to Brandenburg, until statewide reassessments are completed, probably in March, no school budgets will be official.
Manchester school board members are: Sally Krouse, president; Todd Speicher, vice president; Thom Frantz, Larry Miller, Carlye McLaughlin and Kent Terrill. Superintendent is Diane Showalter, business manager is Pat Brandenburg.
