Contract for 2013-14 Ratified by Teachers, Counselors, Librarians

The 2013-14 Tentative Agreement between Springfield NEA and the School District of Springfield R-12 was ratified yesterday evening. With the successful ratification vote from SNEA teachers, counselors and librarians, the tentative agreement will next be presented by administration to the school board as a recommendation for their approval. The date for that meeting has not been determined, and there it is a probability that the administration will wait until all bargaining units (nurses, secretaries, custodial/maintenance/supply and bus drivers) have reached tentative agreements - possibly as late as June.

Teachers, Counselors and Librarians from all across the district did cast their votes at the SNEA/MNEA offices, and the result was a unanimous vote for ratification.

Key Financial Provision in Tentative Agreement (2013-14)

• One salary schedule step for all bargaining unit employees
• An additional salary schedule step for all bargaining unit employees who were actively employed by the district on July 1, 2009
• 1% Across-the-Board Salary Increase
• Stipend step advancement
• Lateral Movement on Salary Schedule for Advanced Degrees
• National Board Certification Stipend
• Additional Load Compensation, ad hoc assignments and additional class assignments
• Health Benefit Trust, up to $2 million district contribution to employee insurance fund

Key Non-Financial Provision in Tentative Agreement (2013-15)

• New Teacher Induction Meeting - The District will present information to new hires about the purpose of collective bargaining, how the process works to establish compensation and working conditions for the unit of teachers, counselors and librarians, and provide representative contact information to new hires.
• Student Behavior & Discipline - Incorporates district guidelines on student behavior and discipline into the Agreement, including a provision that administrators will make the referring teacher aware of their response to the student disciplinary referral.
• Association President Leave of Absence - Provides for the exclusivity of leave for the president of the recognized representative association. Nothing in this section prohibits any association from requesting and being granted excused absences to engage in activities of their respective association.
• Reassignments and Transfers - This provision simplifies the old system of limited multiple posting periods by creating one exclusive internal posting period in February followed by an open posting period for both internal and external applicants that extends through June 30. This provision also underscores an existing electronic notification system, where employees can sign up to receive immediate electronic updates of posted openings. This Article also provides that no transfer applicant will be subject to additional risk of involuntary transfer. Also, teachers who have not met summative requirement (improvement plan) were previously ineligible for transfer for three years. That ineligibility period would be reduced to one year.

If you have any questions about the tentative agreement, please send an email to snea@aol.com or call the office, 869-5090.