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Teacher Negotiations

All data links on this page are password protected. The password is available to school board members, superintendents and business managers by contacting the VSBA. You may email Kerri at klamb@vtvsba.org or call the office at 800-244-8722.

    These are some unique ideas some districts have tried in the last few years:

  1. This spreadsheet shows some unique items in contracts and unique circumstances (Imposed contracts, still negotiating for the current school year contract, special committees set up in the contract to study new benefits, mentoring programs, salary freezes, etc.)
  2. Merit Pay
  3. Perrformance Pay
  4. One Year Step "Relief"
  5. Comp $1000 Insurance (with HSA) - see below under Benefits
  6. The board agrees to pay a different percentage of premiums based on the salary step of the teacher (Danville 2010-2011 contract)
  7. Salary FREEZE. This means no step advancements and no pay increases.
  8. Necessity of Voter Approval

The VSBA recommends school districts hire a negotiator. If you choose not to here are some key pieces of information.

  1. Select a lead negotiator/spokesperson. This person is the only person to speak to the media or union.
  2. Request a representative from the Vermont School Board Insurance Trust meet with your committee/board to fully explain the benefits available to teachers and the costs involved. VSBIT may be reached at (802)223-5040. This could be a large cost savings. If you can't have someone come in view the streaming video on the VSBA website or the Negotiation DVD set from the VSBA that discussed insurance. Below you will find an outline of the health insurance options and the prices.
  3. School board negotiations committee meetings (prior to union negotiation meeting)
  4. Set ground rules for committee and negotiations meeting. Examples:
    5. * Will meetings be in executive session?
    * No releases to the media until impass.
    * Will the lead negotiator speak for the board?
    * If anyone else is contacted will they refer the media to the lead negotiator?
    * Will you accept new issues raised at negotiations after the second meeting?
  5. Discuss priorities for changes in the contract.
  6. Bring administrators into meeting for their comments and suggestions.
  7. Prioritize flexibility of current language or suggested language to present in negotiations by using the sample teacher contract language.
  8. Begin researching the teacher salaries, benefits information found below. Look at your district location, other districts with similar enrollment, local private schools, and payroll for public business positions.
  9. Prior to negotiations, read the relevant negotiation laws.
    10. 16 V.S.A. Chapter 57 (For teachers - licensed instructional staff)
    21 V.S.A. Chapter 22 (For paraprofessionals and other non-licensed staff)

  10. Take a laptop into negotiations with you. Use one of these spreadsheets (adapted by your business manager with your district's information). This spreadsheet allows you to simply enter the salary increase, projected insurance increase, and the benefit co-pay that is suggested and this spreadsheet will show you exactly how much these adjustments will cost the district.
  11. Comparison Sheet - Below you will find a great deal of information. We would like to supply you with a comparison sheet . This sheet can be used to compare your district's data to other similar districts. After comparing the salary and benefits information, please note you may find statewide NECAP scores and information to compare district the performance in the School Reports.
  12. Negotiation Templates - These spreadsheets are created to be used during negotiations. They are created with assistance from your Business Manager. They are set up so that the school board member can adjust teaching days, teaching hours, wage increase and health co-pay to immediately see how this would effect the district with it's current employees. These templates are available for single districts negotiating and regional negotiations.
  13. Go over ground rules at the beginning
  14. Let the union make the first proposal for salaries

  15. Remember: until a new contract is settled the previous contract is in effect including steps unless no increase is in the contract. Here is some sample language you may want to include in your contract is you DO NOT want an automatic step increase to continue until the next contract is settled.
  16. If you are considering an Arbitrator, Mediator or Fact Finder the VSBA keeps a running tally of survey responses from districts who have used an Arbitrator, Mediator or Fact Finder . To request a copy of the survey compilation please email a request to klamb@vtvsba.org. After completing your work, please contribute by completing a survey (Acrobat format) for the person your district had selected.

To download a copy of the free viewers, click on the appropriate file format:
  • "pdf" files require a free Adobe Acrobat reader.
  • "xls" files require a free Excel viewer.

    Salary Information

    1. The VSBA office holds hard copies of all public school district contracts and salary schedules. Please email or call our office for faxes or pdf emails of any district(s).

    2. This spreadsheet compares 2008-2009 to 2009-2010 salary schedules for districts who have settled their contracts. It does list the districts who have not yet settled.

    3. The below spreadsheets information includes the base salaries, master base salaries, and and four "scenarios". An example, of a scenario would be if you were to hire a teacher with 20 years of experience with a bachelors degree (no additional credits). The scenarios help to compare districts equally.

    Benefits

    1. The newest benefit plan that districts are considering is the Comp Plus plan which is a $1,000 deductible. Many are using a $1,000 HRA (Health Reimbursement Account) to cover the deductible. To read more about this option:
      Future Planning Association HRA Plan Information Icon for Microsoft Word document. Icon for Microsoft Word document.
      Feedback from the first district to try this option, North Country UHS Icon for Microsoft Word document. Icon for Microsoft Word document.
      Vermont School Board Insurance Trust (VSBIT) information Icon for Microsoft Word document. Icon for Microsoft Word document.
    2. Plan descriptions
    3. Insurance Prices
        FY 10-11
      Data             		2008-2013
      Data
      In Lieu of insurance
      Health Insurance and VSBIT rebate
      Dental Insurance
      Life Insurance
      Planning Minutes/week and Student Hours/day (IN the contract)
      School Days Off
      Cafeteria Plan
      Disability
      Complete Benefits Spreadsheet
      Agency Fee Agreement

    Other Helpful Links

    Local Economic Data Income Tax (Vermont Department of Taxes)

    Department of Education Information

    1. School Reports for each school in the state. School Reports include:
      • Total School Enrollment
      • Attendance Rate
      • Retention Rate
      • Estimated HS Cohort Graduation Rate
      • Student/Teacher Ratio
      • Eligible Special Education
      • 11-12 Technical Education Rate
      • 9-12 Dropout Rate
      • Home Study (Number)
      • Personnel (FTEs): (to compare quantities of paras)
      • Total number of contract days
      • Number of professional development days
      • Average teacher salary
      • Free and Reduced Lunch
      • Student Performance Testing
      • SAT Scoring

    2. Compare your school district to other states with districts similar to yours.
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