Huron Valley Teachers Get New Contract

The Huron Valley Education Association (HVEA) and the Huron Valley Schools Board of Education have reached a four-year agreement that will begin on June 20.

The contract was ratified by the HVEA, the teachers' union, and then approved by the board on Monday. The agreement will result in $3.6 million in savings for the district in year one of the contract, according to district officials.

The teachers voted 261-194 to approve the contract, while the board voted 6-0 in favor. Board member Lisa Blackwell was absent from the meeting.

According to a press release from the district the following are key components of the contract:

• It's a four year agreement that will go from June 20, 2011 to August 20, 2015.
• There will be a salary reduction each year using the 2010-2011 salary as a base each year. The reductions will range from six to eight percent per year.
• There will be an increase in employee health care premium contributions each year to a maximum of 20 percent by 2014-2015.
• The agreement will also provide district officials an opportunity to set the school calender for several years.
• It will remove the two unpaid days of work teachers conceded in the 2010-2011 agreement.
• The contract will reduce the number of days teachers have students from 178 to 175, and days worked from 183 to 180 in 2011-2012, and 2012-2013 to save on employee costs.

"By virtue of the ratification vote, HVEA members demonstrated once again their commitment to public education, our students and the long term health of our district," Mike MacGregor, current HVEA president, said in a release.

MacGregor said the steep salary and benefit concessions in the agreement prove the teachers' willingness to protect and keep local control of their public schools.

Superintendent Jackie Johnston said she is pleased with the results.

"Our staff is worth much more than we can afford to pay them," she said in a release. "Unfortunately these are difficult times in our community as well as in public education. We are very thankful for the personal sacrifice the HVEA members took on behalf of our students."

Johnston added that this agreement is critical and will provide certainty, both financially and operationally, for the district's employees and families.

The immediate savings will likely help the board finalize the district's budget, which must be in place by June 30.

The district is facing a possible $8 million to $12.9 million deficit for the 2011-2012 school year. The new contract, along with the closing of Highland Middle School, will save the district approximately $4.4 million total next year, according to the district.