Wichita school district, teachers union exchange contract proposals

Representatives for the Wichita school district and the teachers union exchanged contract proposals Tuesday, launching what could be a lengthy back-and-forth on salary, benefits, workload and other issues.

Included in the district’s proposal is a one-time, 1 percent lump sum payment to Wichita teachers and some raises linked to additional experience and education, known as “steps” and “tracks.”

United Teachers of Wichita, which represents about 4,200 certified employees, has proposed a 3 percent increase to the salary schedule as well as moving all teachers to their appropriate pay level for steps, tracks and longevity.

Tom Powell, the district’s general counsel, said that despite cuts to programs and expenses over the past eight years, Wichita teachers have been rewarded with slight pay increases or a reduction in workdays without a cut in pay.

“The board has tried to treat teachers as well as they could,” Powell said. “Not speaking to what’s right and what teachers should be paid, but relatively speaking … we’re doing OK.”

Keith Welty, the UTW’s lead negotiator, said teachers have seen their take-home pay dwindle despite nominal pay increases, because those have been offset by other deductions.

“From the teachers’ standpoint, it doesn’t help,” Welty said. “They have to look at their bank account and paying their bills.”

In addition to the salary schedule presented Tuesday, the school district has proposed:

▪ Keeping a base, no-premium health insurance plan, which would have increased deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.

▪ Keeping a $100-per-month cash option for employees who opt out of the district’s health plan.

▪ Offering “buy-up” insurance options with premiums, deductibles, co-insurance and other features as presented in previous contract talks.

▪ Allowing teachers to attend their children’s parent-teacher conferences and meetings related to special-education plans.

▪ Delaying a surcharge for small appliances, such as classroom fridges, microwaves and coffee pots, until the 2017-18 school year.

▪ Updating a memorandum of understanding between the district and the union regarding the current teacher evaluation system.

▪ Increasing the district’s contribution to each employees’ health plan from $590 to $690 a month, which Powell said is intended to further shore up health reserves.

The union’s counteroffer, in addition to salary increases, proposes:

▪ Reducing the number of in-service days and the amount of professional development during the school day.

▪ Providing elementary school teachers 400 minutes of personal planning time each week.

▪ Instituting two 15-minute recess periods every day for all elementary school students.

▪ Cutting the number of classroom walk-throughs required each year – an element of the Marzano teacher evaluation system – from 10 to two.

▪ Directing a district committee to “provide relief for some of the overwhelming workload for teachers and building administrators” by the first week of October.

▪ Paying special-education teachers an $800 stipend “as a one year, temporary show of support” for managing individualized education plans.

The union’s proposal also notes that “No teacher may be forced to follow a scripted curriculum. Such curriculums may be offered as a resource, but may not be mandated.”

Much of Tuesday’s discussion centered around the Marzano teacher evaluation model, which launched three years ago. The system requires principals to observe each teacher’s classroom at least 10 times a year, for at least three minutes per visit.

Principals on the district team said the visits help them provide meaningful feedback.

“It’s not a ‘gotcha,’ ” said Terrell Davis, principal at Truesdell Middle School. “This is a growth model, and we all believe in it. That has to be the message that we send, and it has to be what we live out.”

Union officials said many teachers don’t think the brief walk-throughs give principals a fair representation of their teaching.

“We want it stronger and more fair for teachers,” Welty said. “That’s all we’re asking for.”

The teams agreed to reconvene at 9 a.m. Wednesday to continue contract talks.

This story was originally published August 9, 2016 at 12:33 PM with the headline "Wichita school district, teachers union exchange contract proposals."