After months of negotiations, the Oxford Education Association (OEA) and the Oxford Schools Board of Education have reached an agreement, and each approved a three-year contract for district teachers. The teachers’ union ratified the new contract on Sept. 18 and the school board passed a motion of approval 6-1 during the Sept. 23 regular meeting.
“It’s a win-win contract for the teachers and the district,” said Superintendent Virginia Brennan-Kyro.
“I was very pleased and very impressed with the tone and tenor of these negotiations. Everyone came to the table with open minds and problem solving attitudes.”
The contract calls for the following pay increases over the next three years: 1.5 percent for the first year, 2.0 percent for the second and 2.5 percent for the third. Also, teachers with longevity in the district, will receive these additional pay increases:
n During the first contract year, teachers will receive an accumulative 0.5 percent at 15 years, 20 years and 25 years.
n During the second contract year, teachers will again receive an accumulating 0.5 percent.
n And during the third contract year, teachers will receive an accumulative 1.0 percent at 15 years, 20 years and 25 years.
This means that in the third contract year a teacher with 15 years experience would be getting a total 3.5 percent, a teacher with 20 years would get a total 4.5 percent and a teacher with 25 years would get a total 5.5 percent.
“It is common practice to reward employees who remain with the district,” said Brennan-Kyro. She added that when comparing Oxford’s 25-step payscale to surrounding districts, the school system is comparable for the first ten years, but falls behind significantly in compensation after that point.
“We wanted to put something extra in there to encourage our employees to remain with the district,” she explained. “This way, we attract the best and we keep the best.”
Brennan-Kyro also stated that the union approved changing the insurance coverage from the current MESSA plan to MESSA Choices, a network-based PPO. Participant co-pays and fees were not effected by the move.
“This will save the district around $500,000 over the three-years of the contract,” she said. She also explained that this amount is derived simply by changing programs and is not affected by yearly cost increases. The new contract states that teachers can choose to change insurance plans for the first year of the contract, but the change is mandatory for everyone in the second year.
School board Vice President Lee Barclay was the only board member to vote against the contract.
“I just think this contract is a lot better for (the teachers) than for the community,” he explained to this reporter. “I also just felt like some of the board members didn’t fully understand the contracts they were approving.”
Barclay said his biggest concern was the length of the contract. He believes that three years is too long when considering the weak economy of the past few years.
“I really am against a three-year contract,” he stated. “With the economy the way it is, a two-year would have been better for everyone.”
“You never know what will happen, especially with state cutbacks. We’re gambling on what the economy will be like three years from now.”
Barclay added that his other primary concern with the contract involved the raises provided, including those for longevity. He also doesn’t feel the change in insurance makes up for these increases.
“To me you shouldn’t be giving raises when you have to make cut backs,” he said. “We had to lay some people off and not fill some teaching posts – that tells me we don’t have the money for raises right now.”
“I think these raises will be eating up any savings in healthcare costs alone, if increases in the cost of insurance don’t do it.”
With the OEA negotiations complete, the district will now be moving ahead to address administrator contracts.