Akron Education Association
Random Notes
Benefits Cte. Approves Health Care Changes
Members of the Health Benefits Advisory Committee have reached a consensus on changes to the present health care package. Membership on the Committee includes representatives from each of the district bargaining units and administrators. At the conclusion of negotiations last summer, every bargaining unit agreed to make changes to the health care package intended to save the district $1.5 million. The changes will go into effect on July 1, 2008, and are summarized in the accompanying dialogue box.
The Committee conducted an exhaustive study of the health care plan, including costs and usage in each area of coverage. Several meetings were required between last fall and February to complete the study.
AEA to File Motion for Reconsideration
SERB Dismisses Conduct Code ULP
The State Employment Relations Board (SERB) has dismissed the unfair labor practice charges filed by AEA and AACP (the union representing Akron’s office support employees) over the Board’s adoption of an employee conduct code last August.
We believe SERB reached its decision on the basis of a filing by the attorney representing the Board that included misrepresentations of fact, including a claim that we had reached a mutually agreeable code!
The Board retained David Farkas, an attorney with the Cleveland law firm Squire, Sanders & Dempsey. In a January 18 correspondence to SERB, Farkas wrote, “Regardless, the district worked with its employee representatives to form a mutually agreeable code, and so it did.” Then, in response to a letter we sent the Superintendent complaining of his outlandish claims, Farkas wrote us, “As you can see, I emphasized that we were engaged in discussion, nothing more, and never once did I represent to SERB that we had
(See “ULP” below)
Benefit Changes Effective 7-1-08
COVERAGE OLD NEW
In-network deductible, $100 $150
single
In-network deductible, $200 $300
family
Out-of network de- $200 $300 ductible, single
Out-of network de- $400 $600 ductible, family
Name brand prescrip- $10 $15
tion co-pay
Out of pocket maximum $600 $900
for prescriptions
Note: The $5 co-pay for generic prescriptions remains unchanged, as do all other areas of health care coverage.
Florida Finally “Gets It” on
Merit Pay
The State of Florida has long been known as one of the nation’s hotbeds for teacher merit pay programs. It’s finally dawned on many of the state’s education deep-thinkers that merit pay doesn’t work.
According to an editorial in the St. Petersburg Times, 60 of Florida’s 67 school districts have abandoned efforts to take advantage of a $147.5 million state budget set-aside to fund merit pay programs. Under the plan, the single most important factor in determining a teacher’s eligibility for merit pay is how their students perform on standardized tests. Proponents of such plans are quick to blame teacher unions for resisting merit plans and for the lack of widespread acceptance of them. Now, Florida is finding out what teacher unions have been saying for years: merit pay plans generally reward teachers in the most affluent schools because that’s where achievement scores tend to be higher. Of the teachers in one of the state’s largest districts (Hillsborough County, including Tampa) who early in the program were awarded $2,100 bonuses for their students’ performance, only 3% were from high-poverty schools, and only half of the district’s “Teacher of the Year” finalists received the bonuses!
ULP
conclusively settled the matter.”
AEA and the union representing the secretaries have filed a Motion for Reconsideration with SERB in response to the dismissal. In the meantime, we have been in discussions with the administration in an effort to resolve our differences over the conduct code.
Don’t forget to order your tickets for AEA Night at the Stadium.
Cost of BCII, FBI Checks May be Disputed
A dispute may be brewing related to who—the employer or employee—is responsible for paying the cost of the recently enacted requirements for BCII and FBI criminal records checks.
We and our attorney have met with the administration to discuss provisions in the legislation which we believe require boards of education to pay the costs for current employees, and allows them to pass the costs on to prospective employees only. Needless to say, the administration rejects our interpretation of the law. Other employee groups within the district have raised the same question.
We have initiated contact with counsel representing unions under the umbrella of the two state organizations (Ohio Federation of Teachers and Ohio Education Association). At this time, they are reviewing the laws requiring the records checks. Once that review is completed, we will determine what course of action would be most prudent to try to resolve the dispute.
.Here We Go Again
Staff Reductions, but RIF’s Unlikely
APS will need nearly 50 fewer teachers next year than are on staff right now. That total includes a reduction of 36 elementary teachers, 5 middle and 7 high school teachers. The reduction is due in large part to projected enrollment figures for the 2008-09 school year.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that the likelihood of any lay-offs occurring is remote. Retirements will “cover” the secondary schools. However, there have only been 21 elementary teacher retirements to date, leaving a difference of 15 elementary positions that are not offset by retirements. While additional retirements will occur between now and through the summer months, the district may again be placing elementary teachers in middle school assignments for 2008-09.
Enrollment decreases are also creating the necessity for transfers out of and within buildings. Schools have been notified of staffing projections for next year and are in the process of determining who will be forced to transfer either internally or out of the building. In most cases, seniority determines who will be required to transfer.
Portage CC Offers Summer Employment
Members who are interested in working this summer on a grounds crew at Portage Country Club are invited to call Fred Alvarez at 836-4994, Ext. 2308.
Mr. Alvarez is looking for teachers for part time positions during the summer months