Superintendent James Schoenlein said that provision will allow the district to absorb some teacher retirements in the coming years without hiring replacements.
The contract also changes “step raises” for experience. In Kettering’s 2009-11 contract, teachers got a 3 to 5 percent raise for each year of experience from 1 to 14 years, and a similar raise at the 18, 22, 25, and 27-year marks.
The new contract eliminates those raises for 2011-12 and 2012-13. Experience steps will be reinstated for 2013-14, with no credit to the teachers for the two years lost. Teachers will continue to receive 3 to 5 percent step raises for educational advancement.
Teachers union President Melissa Gallagher said those education raises, for earning a master’s degree or other benchmarks, are less common, but hard-earned by those taking classes at their own cost.
Kettering schools treasurer Steve Clark said the pay changes will save the district about $5.4 million over the next three years, while increasing teachers’ share of health care premiums from 10 to 15 percent will save another $1.3 million.
The one concession teachers got deals with pension contributions. Currently, all through Ohio, school districts contribute 14 percent of each teacher’s salary to the pension fund, and each teacher contributes 10 percent of his or her salary.
A new state budget proposal could change those percentages to 12 and 12. Kettering’s deal says if that change becomes law, the district would pay all of the teachers’ extra 2 percent in 2011-12, would pay 75 percent of the change in 2012-13 and pay 50 percent of the change in 2013-14.
School board President Julie Gilmore said she was happy with the new contract, which she called “fair for the teachers and the community.” Gallagher hesitated at the word “fair,” but acknowledged the deal is “a realistic alternative” given budget pressures.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2278 or jkelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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