Schools

New Three-Year Contract Ratified By Madison Board Of Education And Administrators

Fourteen administrators in Association of Madison Administrators union agree to wage freeze in first year, an increase of 2.25 percent in second year, and 3.0 percent in the third year.

The Madison Board of Education voted Tuesday night to approve a  a new, three-year contract for the Association of Madison administrators that will result in a net increase in costs of $46,000 over the three years.

The vote to approve the contract was eight to one, with board member Bill Clorite abstaining. Clorite said he abstained from voting on the contract because he hadn't had a chance to review to the contract that was sent to him via email several days earlier. Board members approving the contract included John Dean, Jean Fitzgerald, Debra Frey, Seth Klaskin, Pam Meier, Robert Ruggiero, Cindy Wood, and Chairman Becky Coffey.

The new contract will run from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2015. It calls for a general wage freeze in the first year, followed by an increase of 2.25 percent in the second year, and 3.0 percent in the third year. The new contract also eliminates a health maintenance plan option that was characterized by the board as cost prohibitive, and it increases employee co-pays for office visits and prescriptions, along with payroll cost shares for medical and dental insurance.

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In the first year, the impact on the budget will be a net reduction of $5,321; in the second year, a net increase of $18,320; and in the third year a net increase of $33,062.

Board member John Dean said the new contract also reduces some longer term financial liabilities relating to vacation leave, sabbatical leave and reduction in force provisions.

Find out what's happening in Madisonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The negotiations were very productive, respectful, and professional. I believe this experience has strengthened the already strong relationship between board members and administrators," said AMA President and negotiations team leader Frank Henderson, who also is principal of Polson School, in a prepared statement.

"I want to thank the AMA administrators for their willingness to recognize the tough economic times that continue to face many households in our community," said Coffy in a prepared statement. "The union's dedicated and hard-working members have in this negotiation again proven their commitment to serving our students and the community. With this settlement, the unione has also given the board the ability to contain the rising costs of health care going forward."

 




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