Both sides sat down again as the Walton Teachers and Board team continued with the negotiation process. As of Monday afternoon, the School Board and Union were at an impasse and the matter was being prepped to go to a mediator, possibly in time to still get the state money. This as opposed to taking the matter directly to the School Board. There are only about three unions that have not completed negotiations.
Consultant Jerry Copeland opened saying they wanted to be sure they were all understanding the proposals. He said the State Appropriation has been reported as $2,500 for every teacher and school based administrator. He said he is not sure people understood there was an amount for charter schools that had to be taken out. Copeland said, since they now have 606 teachers, times $2500, not including the school based administrators, the amount would leave a minus difference of $255,749 from the $1.3 million appropriated. He also talked about benefit costs such as retirement, totaling $221,190. Copeland said the total is $476,939 that has to be taken out of the amount from the state. Copeland said there was never $2500 coming to each Walton teacher and as far as he knows not for any other county.
Copeland asked the union representative if she remembers saying they would prefer to split the money between the Teachers and ESP unions. She said no, she remembers saying they would look at it. Copeland said he believes that was a direct quote. Copeland also talked about $400,000 in pay scale leveling. Copeland said, after the teachers voted the proposal down, the issue was one of the state money. He noted the amount was improved by around $150,000, but it was not taken for ratification. Copeland said the union’s salary proposal on April 21st, included the money already allocated for the ESP’s, plus an additional $78,000 and not the cost of benefits.
Copeland then referenced a form where the union looked at possible ways to save. This was after the Superintendent said she would consider more if they could find the money. He showed where one of the figures was half a million off. Copeland then showed where they took the current budget, with over 9 months, and compared the costs. He said that where the union said there were savings of $2.2 million, they actually are going to be in the red by $7,620. He also said, if they took the union’s proposal, it would put the fund balance under the needed 3%.
Both sides worked to speed up the Special Magistrate process, one that could take up to six months. Copeland said the magistrate they selected was not able to do the work, so they would go to the second one on the list. The union said they have a magistrate, Tom Young and a date of May 2nd. Copeland said this was good. He asked to allow the special magistrate to rule from the bench. The union said they would have to talk with the members, that they were not necessarily comfortable with the time. Copeland said they are interested in not losing the $1.3 million. The union agreed they do not want that to happen either.
Copeland said they are allowed to negotiate during impasse and asked if the union would take the last offer to the body for a ratification vote. He said the union, that is the representatives at the table, would not take the last proposal to the members. They confirmed, saying it was because they did not have a tentative agreement. Later the union team said, while they did not put the matter to a vote, they did poll the membership.
The union negotiation team talked privately then came and talked with the members in the rooms. As they returned to the table, the district team was told the teachers still do not trust the Board and was surprised the district team had not brought a new proposal. They also reminded the district team they had come with a proposal last September. They further said they asked for but never received a written proposal, just an oral agreement. The district team was told the union wants someone else to consider the issue. This means the situation is still at impasse and should eventually go to the special magistrate.