School Board, Teachers Reach Contract Agreement
By Karen Gould

With the new school year less than two weeks away, a contract agreement was reached between Mackinac Island school teachers and the school board that calls for a 4% retroactive pay increase for last year and a 2.7% salary hike for the 2007-2008 school year. Teachers can expect to see a lump retroactive payment covering last year's increase Friday, August 31.

The new three year contract was signed by the school board Thursday, August 23, 14 months after the old contact expired June 30, 2006, which coincides with the end of the school's fiscal year.

Like this year, the 2008- 2009 school year also will give teachers a cost of living increase using the April national Consumer Price Index, which measures prices paid by consumers for goods and services.

Two people were in the audience when the decision was reached, teacher Susan Bennett, who headed the teachers' negotiating team, and former board member Paul Wandrie, who led negotiations for the board. Laura Eiseler and Karen Allen also represented teachers during the contract negotiations and Ben Mosley and Jason St. Onge joined Mr. Wandrie to represent the board.

A notable negotiated change was made in the contract that affects teachers with 10 years vested at the Island school and who also want to retire, said Mrs. Bennett. Those teachers can be compensated for up to 150 sick days at $25 a day when they retire.

The sick day buyout is less than half of a substitute teacher's daily pay of $60, noted Ben Mosley, board president.

Wording changes delayed the completion of the new teacher contract as both sides updated old language.

"In almost every section," said Mr. Mosley, "there were some sort of changes."

A similar change was made in teacher education requirements for new teachers. Rather than specify requirements that could become outdated, the contract now states the school will comply with Michigan law.

The three-year contract is retroactive to June 2006.

"So we have two more years before we get to do this again," Mr. Mosley said.

In other business, the board agreed to hire Kathleen Peterson of St. Ignace as the special education teacher. She also will teach an elementary music class. The school had hired Crystal Hilborm in April on a temporary basis to complete the school year.

New playground equipment has arrived, although removing old equipment and completing new footing work will delay its installation, said Superintendent Roger Schrock. The board hopes to get volunteers to help install the equipment. Replacing equipment became necessary this summer when adults damaged equipment that was designed for children. While a final bill has not been received, Dr. Schrock estimated the new equipment will cost about $3,000.

Replacing three aging doors will go back to the Building and Grounds Committee, which likely will seek bids again. On the first attempt, one bid was received after deadline and a second bid did not include installation.

The board will also seek bids to repaint the storage shed, with the Building and Grounds Committee empowered to hire a contractor prior to next month's meeting. Members discussed covering the storage shed with vinyl siding to reduce future maintenance expenses, although they agreed the cost was more than they are willing to spend now.

Dr. Schrock announced that a failed refrigerator compressor caused the spoilage of food, which together with repair, will cost an estimated $2,000.

The following committees were approved during the meeting:

Building and Grounds: Chair Larry Rickley, Leanne Brodeur, and Trish Martin.

Budget: Chair Jason St. Onge, Sara Chambers, and Terry Andress.

Curriculum: Chair Terry Andress, Sara Chambers, and Larry Rickley.

Evaluations and Personnel: Chair Trish Martin, Sara Chambers, and Terry Andress.

Negotiations: Chair Jason St. Onge, Ben Mosley, and Leanne Brodeur.

Policy: Chair Ben Mosley, Leanne Brodeur, and Larry Rickley.

Public Relations: Chair Leanne Brodeur, Larry Rickley, and Trish Martin.

Scholarships: Chair Sara Chambers, Larry Rickley, and Jason St. Onge.

The board next meets in the school library at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 20.