Ypsilanti teachers, district agree on last year's contract; much left to resolve for this year

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.

The district had wanted the teachers union, the Ypsilanti Education Association to accept a 3 percent pay cut for a savings of roughly $330,000 in last year's contract. The union called for a 1 percent wage increase, but YEA president Kelly Powers said it was time to move forward and settle on last year. So both sides accepted the 0 percent increase.

“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.

The district and union have been in negotiations since September 2009 on both contracts. Powers said negotiations got off to a slow start because of the late hires of Superintendent Dedrick Martin and Chief Financial Officer David Houle, who weren’t both in place until November.

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.