District 197 Board Approves Teacher Contract, Chastises Outcome

The approved a new teachers contract Monday night with a show of reluctance and strong words.

The contract was approved 4-2, with nay votes from school board members Pat Barnum and Dewayne Dill, both who sat on the negotiation team.

Board member Byron Schwab was not present.

“It’s time to get on with life but I’m not doing it happily,” said Board Chair Mark Spurr, who voted in favor of the contract. “This is barely acceptable, but it’s on the acceptable side of barely.”

The West St. Paul Federation of Teachers has ratified the agreement.

Contract description from district:*

The total package increase for year one of the working agreement is 3.64%.  This represents steps, lanes and a 1% increase to the schedule with an additional $225.00 dollars on the top step of the schedule.  The total package increase for year two of the working agreement is 1.25%.  This represents 1% on the schedule and lanes the second year, but no step increase until the very last day of the teaching year.

The contract does not include language desired by the board to provide more flexibility in determining unrequested leave of absences, i.e. termination of contracts.

The issue has been a topic of discussion at the state level where a bill to allow districts to consider performance reviews as part of layoff decisions has stalled out.

While there are procedures in place to allow for the release of underperforming teachers, end-of-year staffing cuts are determined by seniority.

“Our proposals in that regard were characterized as anti-teacher, and that’s simply not the case,” said Board Chair Mark Spurr. “I’m sorely disappointed that we did not make progress and this is an issue that’s not going to go away.”

The state teachers union has characterized efforts to incorporate performance reviews into contract termination as a way to fire more experienced and expensive teachers, and to turn away from developing the skills of struggling teachers. Opponents also want to see a performance evaluation framework developed first. 

Federation President Diane Thompson said the local union wants to see how the issue plays out at the state level before formulating a local policy.

“I feel like what never gets said, even at the legislative level, is there needs to be a fair and equitable evaluation system,” said Thompson.

'Respectful, Fair and Calm'

Barnum, who sat at the negotiating table, described the process as respectful, fair and calm. However, she described the final contract as “hard for our future and hard for our kids.”

Barnum said in particular that the district’s step schedule is “out of wack,” and while it can’t be resolved in contract negotiations, she was disappointed that language was removed to require the board and Federation to address uneven step increases. “Every year we make it worse.”

She also said the end-of-year step increase would be a burden in the next contract cycle.

Thompson said that teachers have lost a step or a half step for the second year in a row because the contracts are not retroactive, and the end-of-year step increase partially addresses that.

“It’s frustrating to me when we’re portrayed as not sacrificing and I believe we have,” said Thompson. “I believe our members have sacrificed. We also know—our members live it—the economy’s bad. We understand that.”

The contract period runs from June 1, 2011 to July 30, 2013.

“I do feel that we need to move on and that’s kind of where I’m at,” said board member David Koziol.

Board member Joanne Mansur said approving the contract would be an act of "good faith," and she wants the new and cabinet to work with the teachers union to address board concerns in the next contract.

*This article has been edited to include the full district description of the contract.

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