Ypsilanti teachers, district agree on last year's contract; much left to resolve for this year
As a new school year is about to get under way, negotiating teams for Ypsilanti Public School District teachers and administrators have agreed on a contract for last year, but they still remain far apart on some points as they try to work out an agreement for the coming year.
The school board at its meeting Monday voted to accept last year's contract with a 0 percent salary increase from the previous year. Negotiating teams have also reached agreement on some points in next year's contract.
But the two sides remain at odds over $1.9 million in wage and benefit concessions the administration is asking from the union. The asked for concessions include a 7 percent pay cut totaling $770,000.
Kelly Powers
“I’m not happy that we’re remaining at that salary because there are people whose salaries are going up in Washtenaw County, but we know our situation and we have to contribute to help out with the deficit,” she said.
District officials were not immediately available for comment.
Last school year, YPSD made significant cuts district-wide as part of a state-mandated deficit elimination plan in which it aimed to cut $6.4 million from its budget. Several schools were closed, other unions made wage concessions, some teachers accepted buyouts and the transportation department was outsourced to the Washtenaw Intermediate School District in a countywide busing plan.
But much of the savings were offset by an unforeseen spike in state retirement and health insurance costs.
The two sides continued negotiations on Thursday. Powers said the union will not accept a 7 percent cut but is working to meet the $1.9 million figure.
So far the two sides have agreed to parts of the contract, including reaching a salary schedule for new hires, which will save the district approximately $100,000.
The union has also accepted concessions in schedule A employee pay, which includes positions such as sports coaches or safety monitors, saving roughly $77,000. Starting this year, schedule A employees will be paid the salary for the first step on the pay scale. Previously those employees were compensated based on each step in seniority.
Teachers have agreed to two extra days on the school year and both sides have agreed to this year’s calendar. Additionally, both sides have agreed class size in the popular Montessori program will not exceed 20 students.
Dedrick Martin
Last year, the Ypsilanti Support Staff Association, the Ypsilanti Administrators' Association and non-union administrative staff - including secretaries - all took 3-percent pay cuts.
In June, the school board approved a balanced budget that relied heavily on YEA and YSSA concessions.
Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for Ann Arbor.com. To read more Ypsilanti stories, visit our Ypsilanti page.
Comments
Grant
Tue, Sep 7, 2010 : 8:58 a.m.
Kelly Powers, you have been eroding this district for years, much to the detriment of our children! You have systematically caused the district to fall into a deficit with your greed for money. Staff members in your own union do not agree with your tactics, and you are painting them all as greedy uncaring educators. I know for a fact that there many many caring teachers, and you are not one of them. For years you have been given one half a day off as a gym teacher at district expense, in order to stir up trouble. Go back to Brighton were you came from!
Moonmaiden
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 4:39 p.m.
As an Ypsi teacher, I hate to see the statements Ms. Powers is making. I haven't been asked what I think and most of my teacher friends feel just as left out of the process. The union leadership needs to get more feedback from those they represent.
beard
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 3:16 p.m.
People commenting on Ms. Powers' quote should realize that she is referring to school district employees in Washtenaw County. Over the past few years, teachers have conceded much more than wages. While class sizes are growing to all-time highs, classroom budgets are lower than they have ever been. Staff to support teachers can not be afforded any more, so therefore are not employed by school districts. A new kindergarten teacher ten years ago made more money than he/she would today, the class size would be much smaller, and there would also be an assistant that was paid on salary by the district. Of course, concessions need to be made, and teachers will make concessions, but people criticizing Ms. Powers for doing her job does not help anything. If a school district does not have a strong union head for its teachers, the administration walks all over it, and good teachers do not want to teach there. We all want good teachers to teach in Ypsilanti, so instead of criticizing Ms. Powers, I would like to thank her.
Angry Moderate
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 5:24 p.m.
So, none of the teachers at Greenhills, Gabriel Richard, or any of the charter schools are "good", because good teachers don't want to work anywhere without a union? How insulting to them, especially since they do their jobs for less pay AND less benefits than public school teachers.
stunhsif
Sun, Aug 29, 2010 : 10:30 p.m.
"I'm not happy that we are remaining at that salary because there are people whose salaries are going up in Washtenaw County". Wow, this from Kelly Powers president of the YEA union. Where ya been Kelly, head up in the clouds at 50 thousand feet? Not much air up there. Your school district is on life support and you are crying about not getting pay increases. Give Virg Bernero a call, he will be willing to listen to you, but powerless to do anyting after he gets his "behind" spanked by the Rickster! Good Day No Luck Needed
dading dont delete me bro
Sun, Aug 29, 2010 : 7:56 p.m.
ok now, so how's emu's negotiations going?
Sandy Castle
Sun, Aug 29, 2010 : 7:27 a.m.
Im not happy that were remaining at that salary because there are people whose salaries are going up in Washtenaw County, but we know our situation and we have to contribute to help out with the deficit, Kelly Powers Really? I'd like to know whose salaries, in a large bargaining unit, went up recently? We know for sure it wasn't Washtenaw County or Ford Motor Company, or any of the local municipal employees. Is this the way the teachers' union bargains? By putting false crap out there? Just ridiculous!