Union refuses comment on teachers pact

Talk about it

The Hudson School District and the teachers union apparently will not release a joint statement that was expected after the ratification of the new contract.

Prior to the contract vote in late May, both district Deputy Director Nancy Sweet and local union representative and HHS teacher Scott Ellingson told the Star-Observer that they would issue a joint press release about the contract once an agreement was reached and the contract was approved by both the school board and the teachers.

When no statement was released, the Star-Observer contacted Ellingson, who replied via e-mail. He wrote, “I believe that what has been said has been said.”

Sweet said the district did forward their portion of the statement to the union but did not know if the union would complete the release. Sweet answered questions from the Star-Observer about the contract, and members of the school board commented on it following their votes on June 8.

The new contract calls for a 6.89 percent increase in wages and benefits for the contract period 2009-10 and 2010-11. The pay raise is being phased in beginning on July 1 with a 1 percent increase per cell on a pay grid. Teachers will get another 3 percent increase per cell beginning on Jan. 1, 2011. The teachers also get increases based on years of teaching experience. The combined package with benefits totals the 6.89 percent.

Regarding the pay freeze all district employees took in 2009-10, district Financial Director Tim Erickson said teachers received a zero increase on the salary schedule but did receive experience steps for 2009-2010 to arrive at the total salary and benefits of 2.23 percent for 2009-10. The teachers’ salary adjustment for experience steps will be paid retroactive to the 2009-10 fiscal year.

Tags: school board, education, hudson