Teachers Take Decreased Raises in New Contract

The Milton Public Schools have agreed to a new three-year contract with the teachers' union after near unanimous votes from the Milton Educators Association and the Milton School Committee. The teachers agreed to a one percent cut in raises in the final year of their three-year contract and 2 and 2.25 percent increases the next two years.

The contract, which is highlighted by a drop from 3.5 percent to 2.5 percent for raises this year, was ratified by the School Committee 5-1 on Wednesday, September 8 at Milton High School.

On September 2, the teachers voted 294 to five to ratify the new contract. Four of the schools, Pierce, Glover, Collicot and Cunningham, passed the deal unanimously.

The immediate impact of the new contract, which is retroactive to September 1, is a savings of over $181,000. It also protects the district from legal fees and the potential of teachers working without a contract until at least Fiscal Year 2014.

Wednesday's meeting began with Committee member Glenn Pavlicek and MEA President Margaret Gibbons explaining the negotiations.

The raise amounts will be standard for all Unit A employees, which consists of classroom teachers, except those employees with more than 20 years of experience. Those teachers will earn the full 3.5 percent raise for this year.

The new contract also eliminated two half-days. The February 16th Parent/Teacher Conferences, will become a full day of school. Next fall, the day before Thanksgiving, which has traditionally been a half-day, will become a full day off. The additional day will be added elsewhere in the schedule.

The final element of the new contract was professional development. The required four days and seven hours outside of school have been adjusted to three days and 10 outside hours.

The Unit B contract, which includes 12 directors, was also redone in a similar fashion. Pavlicek said the raise structure will be identical to the Unit A contract. The only change was for Step 20 employees, those with 20 years of experience, who will remain at a 3.5 percent increase this year. Because directors are often former teachers the language was amended to include directors who have worked for Milton Public Schools for 30 years. This redefined language affected only one director.

 Generally, the response to the renegotiation was positive. Gibbons called it a win for the union, the school system and Milton.

"This came out to be good for both sides, the community and the kids," Gibbons said.

Pavlicek said the discussions were held among groups that greatly respect one another.

"We have a relationship with our teachers that a lot of other communities would die to have," said Pavlicek.

Member Mary Kelly, the lone no-vote for both Unit A and Unit B ratification, first applauded the collaboration, but said the uncertainty of the economy forced her to reject the deal. Taking another contract three years into unknown financial straits was too much for Kelly to agree to, noting a shorter deal would have been better.

Pavlicek countered that taking the stability of two addition years off the table would have damaged the strong relationship and taken away trust.

"Once that (trust) is gone," said Pavlicek. "It's gone for a long time."

Kelly also believes the school system should have driven for an even lower percentage. She said some unions have taken zero percent raises for a year, saying that was never considered by the MEA.

Both Pavlicek and Chair Lynda-Lee Sheridan called the 2.5 percent raise a low watermark for the Town of Milton.

Member Kristan Bagley-Jones also applauded the MEA for coming to negotiating table with a sizable raise in hand. "They owned 3.5 percent and for them to give up that much is great," Bagley-Jones said.

The School Committee will meet again on September 22.