New teachers contract.

The teachers union to vote on Tuesday night. I expect that the teachers union will accept this contract.

What does this mean for the district? It does not seem to be to detrimental to the district. They are not giving up a lot. Is this good for the teachers or do they want or need more?



Teachers to vote on contract
DULUTH: The teachers union and school district reached a tentative agreement without a mediator.
BY JAKE WEYER
NEWS TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Duluth teachers will decide Tuesday whether to accept a tentative contract agreement reached last month.
The agreement would give teachers a 2.5 percent salary increase during both the 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years.
Administrators and the Duluth Federation of Teachers, which represents 800 teachers in the Duluth school district, struck the deal without a mediator -- something not accomplished in 25 years.


"This is a contract that is fair for all parties," said DFT President Frank Wanner.
If teachers approve the contract, the School Board will vote on Jan. 17 to ratify it. Minnesota school districts face reductions in state funding if contracts are not approved by that date.
Under the existing contract, the base teacher salary is $29,418. The new agreement would increase starting pay to $30,145 during the 2005-06 school year and $30,889 during the 2006-07 year.


Statewide, the average starting salary based on 124 districts reporting settlements is $30,857 during the first year and $31,700 during the second, according to the Minnesota School Boards Association.
The Minnesota Department of Education reports that the average salary for Duluth teachers is $49,483, compared to the state average of $47,361.
Teacher salaries are based on experience, academic credits and degrees earned. Coaches, advisers and site council team members receive additional pay.
The new contract includes no significant health-care changes, but prescription drug co-pays will increase from $8 to $10 during the second year, Wanner said.
Changes would be made to the elementary school workday under the new contract. Two potential adjustments are an earlier start for teachers and a 15-minute reduction in the maximum amount of instructional class time per teaching day.
The days of special-education teachers, Adult Basic Education and Area Learning Center instructors and music, art and media specialists also were modified in the contract.
No changes to the secondary school day are mentioned in the proposed contract. A "memorandum of understanding" about maintaining the existing middle school day was included.

Administrators and union officials talked about the high school day, but said they did not want to rush decisions. Instead, a committee was formed to evaluate what changes might be needed.
"Sitting across the bargaining table isn't the best place to come up with those solutions," Superintendent Keith Dixon said.
Committees also were formed to work on health insurance cost savings and other issues that needed further discussion.
A state-mandated report detailing the financial impact of the new contract will be completed before the board meets next week. Dixon said administrators and union officials had the district's financial well-being in mind.


"It's not to (the union's) advantage to drive the district into debt," he said.
Wanner will meet with teachers Monday to answer questions about the contract. After the last bell rings Tuesday, they can vote at select schools throughout the district. Teachers have until5 p.m. to cast a ballot, unless they vote at the DFT office, where polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Wanner expects the votes to be counted that evening


I need to make some comments about the Frank Wanner who is the president of the DFT.

I wish people would understand this guy does not care about the students he only cares about how much they get payed. He does not care if what they use to teach with is up to date or not, why would he is never at the school to teach.

Source:http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/local/13582879.htm


This guys only cares about money. He does not care about education or the how the kids get it all.

When does the union vote on there reps. Why do they keep electing him there leader? I know many teachers can't stand him and wish he was not the president. Now I know you will have that in any situration but it needs to be stated.