Representatives with the Atlantic School District’s Education Association – representing the Certified Staff – and Board of Education, met Wednesday night to present their opening proposals with regard to the Collective Bargaining Process. Speaking on behalf of the Education Association, Mike McDermott explained their proposal includes a $300 increase to the base salary, or a total of three-percent package increase.

Atlantic School Board & Education Assoc. reps. and Board Atty. Emily Ellingson meet to discuss Collective Bargaining proposals (Ric Hanson/photo 2/25/20)

He said “Some of the rules and regulations have changed over the years…but that’s the traditional schedule we’ve used since about 1974. That’s what our members are comfortable with, but we are open to analyzing their schedule as well.”

For its part, the Board of Education, proposes a base increase wage for 2020-21, of 1.68-percent. Their “Alternative Compensation Model” in lieu of the Certified Schedule in the current Master Contract. The District also proposes making changes to the distribution of TSS (Teacher Salary Supplement) funds, which it says will result in No Loss of Money for any employee sitting on the current salary schedule. Some employees will see a significant increase in the combined salary from the TSS re-distribution plan, but no employee will experience a loss in the combined salary.

The District also proposes a two-year agreement, but the Education Association wasn’t prepared to discuss that right away. Mike McDermott said Wednesday night was the Association’s first look at the District’s proposal, and it’s something they will take back to their Union members to examine the numbers and conduct their own calculations.
He said the District’s salary schedule proposal is based off of a flat dollar amount.

He said “Any mathematician will tell you that a flat dollar amount doesn’t necessarily help some of your veteran teachers. We also we have what’s called a STEP increase [where] you get a little bit more when you’re a younger teacher. You drop down a STEP and receive a few more funds.”

That, he says is very important to a beginning teacher. The STEP increase would be eliminated in the District’s proposal. Both sides will meet again in a closed session at the Middle School on March 18th, beginning at 3:30-p.m. In the meantime, both sides will continue to crunch the numbers. McDermott had high praise for ACSD Business Manager Sarah Sheeder, who he said has been “Outstanding to work with,” and he thinks that will continue moving forward.