Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER -ÊWith 211 signatures from Wawasee School Corp. staff members, the Wawasee Community Educators Association presented the Wawasee School Board with a petition Tuesday urging the board to provide an equitable settlement for the 2001-02 teacher contracts.
In addition, Dr. Robert C. Cockburn, WCEA, told the school board the negotiations are at an impasse but talks are cordial. He thanked the administration for its openness and willingness to talk.
At the end of the meeting, he gave out a press release from the WCEA that listed the work and dedication of the Wawasee staff and how that will benefit the students.
Another part of the press release states: "The school board recently approved pay raises for administrators of approximately 3 percent. This follows a 9 percent raise three years ago and a 4 percent raise last year (teachers received 2.25 percent and 3 percent for those years). Administrators have also been receiving incentive pay for the past several years. ...
"Teachers have seen their insurance costs increased approximately 7 percent, in addition to accepting cuts in several coverage areas. Administrators will not be facing the 7 percent increase, since their entire insurance coverage is paid for through the General Fund (taking money from teachers, custodians, support personnel, etc. to give to the administrators).
"... It is not the intent of the WCEA to conduct negotiations in the media or the local coffee shops. We feel that these issues can best be settled in face-to-face conferences between the two teams. A mediator provided by the state will be meeting with both teams Feb. 25. It is our hope that a settlement can be reached through this process."
Wawasee Superintendent Mark Stock gave his superintendent's report, which addressed both the financial status of the school district and contract talks.
Sixty percent of the school corporation's revenue is from the state and 40 percent is local property tax but the burden is shifting every year to local schools, he said.
There are five funds which the school corporation has to work with, and money cannot be transferred between the funds. The General Fund is for salaries, utilities and materials - 89 percent of the fund is for personnel. The Capital Projects Fund is for facilities, maintenance contracts and technology. The other three funds are the Transportation, Preschool and Debt Service funds.
A state formula put in place after the 1973 tax rate freeze determines how much money Wawasee schools get from the state. The formula isn't based on equity but on student needs. Districts with higher needs get more money. Factors in the formula include student enrollment, at-risk student index and students who have limited English proficiency.
"They decide how much money Wawasee is going to receive," Stock said.
Wawasee's student enrollment has decreased in the last four out of five years and Wawasee's enrollment is less than comparable schools such as West Noble, Plymouth, Fairfield, WaNee and Middlebury. Wawasee's at-risk index is above that of Concord and Warsaw but lower than Whitko, Goshen and West Noble.
Stock said if Wawasee had West Noble's at-risk index with Wawasee's enrollment, they would receive an additional $187,000 per year for the schools annually.
Stock also discussed the contract talks.
WCEA declared an "impasse" Jan. 7. An outside mediator will work with both sides to help reach a contractual agreement, he said.
Last year's teachers contract remains in effect until a new contract is agreed upon. Teachers who aren't eligible for seniority raises don't receive a raise until talks are settled. Teachers who were eligible for seniority raises received them already, and the average seniority raise for teachers was 2.84 percent.
The last offer made to the bargaining team included a 3 percent raise to new teachers; 3 percent raise to teachers at the top of the pay scale; 2 percent raise to all other teachers, plus normal seniority increments averaging 2.84 percent, a 4.84 percent increase over last year's pay; total pay increase including raises and seniority increments would range from 2 to 11.64 percent.
Statewide, Stock reported, 99 of 294 Indiana schools have not settled contracts, and of those that have, the average increase is 2.71 percent.
"If you're following the legislature, you know that administrators are nervous right now," Stock said.
Indiana could face $115 million in education cuts, with Wawasee's share being approximately $400,000. To make up the difference, Wawasee may have to cut out new computer labs for two years, hold off buying some new buses and possible staff attrition or cuts.
In summary, he said, Wawasee is ranked 236th of 294 schools in money to spend per student and ranked 102nd out of 294 in career earnings for teachers.
"I'm confident mediation will help understand all these things better," said Stock.
