Traverse City Record-Eagle

Charlevoix County

September 23, 2009

Charlevoix schools near contract agreement

BY LINDSAY VANHULLE

CHARLEVOIX -- A negotiator for employees in Charlevoix Public Schools said the groups are close to finalizing new contracts with the district after more than a year of talks.

Bargaining teams for the district's teachers and support staff have met with a state mediator since January and recently began meeting about twice a month, representatives for both sides said.

Both two-year contracts expired Aug. 31, 2008. They were added to the Michigan Education Association's "critical list" in February.

"I think it is within reach," said Bob Kwiatkoski, an MEA UniServ director who has worked with Charlevoix employees since July. "Both teams have things from the mediator that they need to discuss."

The Charlevoix Education Association represents about 70 teachers, and the Charlevoix Education Support Personnel group represents about 30 paraprofessionals and custodial, food service, maintenance and office employees.

All options have been presented, Kwiatkoski said, but he would not discuss specifics.

"Is everybody going to be happy? No," he said. "But will it be reasonable and fair? I think so."

Superintendent Chet Janik would not reveal details nor speculate as to when a tentative agreement would be reached, citing instructions by the mediator not to discuss negotiations.

Since bargaining began in the spring of 2008, all parties "have exchanged numerous offers," he said.

"Our talks have been honest, civil and productive," said Janik, who serves as the district's chief negotiator. "We are making progress."

The district anticipated losing about 40 students when its 2009-10 budget was set in June.

Since then, Janik said, enrollment projections have changed to a loss of 60 students, each of whom represent $8,424 in state funding -- or more than $505,000.

An official fall head count will be taken Sept. 30.

Administrators did not include a pay raise for its union employees in the budget this year, so the document will have to be adjusted once a contract is reached.

A first-year teacher with a bachelor's degree earns $35,428. That same teacher with 25 years of experience earns $60,192.

Support staff hourly wages range from $11.51 for a food service utility helper to $18.52 for maintenance workers.

"We're just letting the process move forward and just hoping for the best," said Annemarie Conway, a humanities and social studies teacher who serves as the teachers' chief bargainer.

She did not comment further. Support staff employee representatives could not be reached for comment.

Mediation will resume in October, Kwiatkoski said. Both groups have met with the district's bargaining team without a mediator present.

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