S-K School District Contract Offer Covers Increase in Teacher Insurance Costs

The district says licensed insurance rates for the 2006-07 school year show an overall increase in costs of 5.9%

(SALEM) - Insurance rates for 2006-07 for Salem-Keizer School District licensed staff are set to increase by an overall 5.9% - an increase that will be almost totally covered by the district`s offer to raise its insurance contribution from the current $795 to $845 per month.

`We provided the School Board with a lot of research and data about insurance rates.

Their original offer to the union was based on a realistic estimate," said Joe Weiss, Executive Director of Human Resources.

`Now that the overall rate increase is out, it shows that our contribution offer is indeed an accurate match," Weiss added.

Salem-Keizer`s original offer was for a 6% increase in the district`s contribution toward employee insurance costs.

The union`s original counter offer asked for an increase of 9 - 12% - well above next year`s actual increase in rates.

At the May 25th meeting, the union`s bargaining team had revised its proposal, and is now seeking a 9% increase in the district`s contribution toward insurance.

The union`s team stated that their goal is not just to keep up with the rise in insurance costs, but to reduce how much members are paying out-of-pocket.

In the previous bargaining meetings, both teams made progress in refining contract language.

A few issues remain to be resolved, but the majority of the bargaining work is complete.

Union`s bargaining team provided costing information of their proposal at the May 25th meeting.

In March, the school board made a four-year offer of $50 additional for insurance each year and salary increases of 2.5%, 2.0%, 2.0%, and 2-3% for the four years.

That offer, which was good until April 20th , and was rejected by the union`s bargaining team.

They are re-evaluating the remainder of the offer in light of other demands for funding for instructional programs that have been presented during the budgeting process this spring.

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Comments

Comments are Closed on this story.

SeanW June 1, 2006 5:11 am (Pacific time)

Thanks for the clarification, Kevin. In that case, using the cliche, "SEA representatives were not available for comment" might be a good idea. :) I also didn't see anything reflecting the source of this story (i.e., "...according to the District-produced 'Bargaining Update'" or some such). This is, of course, all with an eye to journalistic integrity. Thanks again for your reply.

Kevin Hays - Reporter May 31, 2006 7:41 pm (Pacific time)

Sean, I tried to contact SEA but they had left for the day. You or any teacher, staff member, or anyone associated with Salem-Keizer Schools is more than welcome to let their voice be heard here. If we get something from the SEA it will be posted just like the Salem-Keizer story was.

SeanW May 31, 2006 5:01 pm (Pacific time)

Careful, careful, Salem-News.Com: Reprinting the District's "Bargaining Update" in whole hardly constitutes an "Education report". Where's the commentary from the Union (Salem Education Association) on their proposals? If you're going to give Joe Weiss an open forum to say that the District's offer is based on a "realistic estimate," you should give SEA members a chance to say why and how the District can do better.

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