Teachers union would like a neutral party to be involved in future contract talks
A suggestion to improve the climate surrounding future contract talks between the district and the teachers union was presented to members of the Onaway Area Community Schools Board of Education at Monday?s meeting in the Media Center.
Onaway Federation of Teachers? union official Max Boettger, who is a middle school math teacher, labeled recent contract talks as ?running hot,? and that there is a need for an ?unbiased, objective third party to relieve some of the local political pressure,? which he hopes will help the two sides reach a less contentious settlement. The teachers are in the middle of a two-year contract, which expires in August 2007.
Boettger read from hand written notes during the time allotted for citizens to appear before the board. ?I know I am stepping out of the box,? said Boettger, ?but let?s focus on fairness.? He called the last two to three negotiating sessions last fall as being ?negative.?
Boettger asked the board to consider the use of a mediator, fact finder, or binding arbitration in coming up with a ?decision that is fair?This is not a third world radical idea.?
Board president Mitch Winfield said the superintendent has a big responsibility to negotiate a contract with the people he works with. Winfield would like to see the tension removed, but the hiring of a negotiator could be cost prohibitive.
?I felt I would like to get more information before making any decisions,? said Winfield.
He said the board has thought of hiring a negotiator. The cost could be $12,000 to $20,000, ?if things went smooth. The prices go up from there.?
Winfield gave the union a lot of credit for their switch to Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance when the last contract was settled, which saved the district money, but health care costs will probably be at the center of future negotiations.
Superintendent Bob Szymoniak said he is open-minded to a better way of doing things. The matter will be discussed further at a future board workshop.
IN OTHER business:
? Junior varsity football coaches Lewis Robinson and Steve Watson submitted their resignations.
? The board heard the first reading of a change to graduation requirements. The number of blocks during the school day will be reduced from five to four for the 2006-07 s
? Cardinal pins were given to members of the 2005 girls basketball team, which earned academic all state. Pins also were given to staff members involved in the ?Heroes Among US? banquet and the teachers instrumental in making the Ocqueoc Watershed project so successful.
? Marie Stalker appeared before the board to request that the prom be conducted in the OHS gym in the future, and not in other communities. ?I would like to see seniors stay here in town,? said Stalker. She suggested having a prom lock-in in the OHS gym.
?The board had a discussion about this in the past,? said Szymoniak ?We have had a long history of having the prom held elsewhere.? The suggestion was taken under advisement.