Teachers, Trustees Far Apart On Pact

It looks doubtful that an early 1968-69 contract settlement between the Board of Education and the Ann Arbor Teachers' Association (AATA) will be reached. Following last night's regular negotiating meeting, spokesmen for both sides indicated that no agreement is in the offing. Approximately $1 million separates the two negotiating teams. The Board of Education's latest proposal woUld cost about $400,000 more than the 1967-68 teachers' contract - a $1.57 million settlement. The AATA, on the other hand, is asking for a $1.4 million pay and fringebenefit package. Trustee Joseph R. Julin, chief negotiator for the Board of Education, said last night: "I see no indication that the association desires to reach an early agreement. The probability of a resolution of the differences between the money and AATA is demanding and the funds the Board of Education believes will be available became 1 e s s likely after the meeting than bef ore." AATA President Donald NewIsted disagreed with this ap praisal, saying "the association is still anxious to arrive at a decisión on economie matters before May 1 (the original tar get date), but June 1 is prob ably more realistic now." Newsted added, however, tha "it will probably be very diffi cult to reach any agreemen because of the reluctance of the Board of Education to add any money beyond its last proposa to fund economie items. At this time, it seems that the board is lunwilling todo this." "There was no resolution of nything last night," Newsted aid. During the meeting, the eachers presented additional lems in their total economie ackage request. Principally scussed was an AATA propos, for revisión of teachers' speal salary indices - amounts ! money paid to teachers for ischarging special responsibilies, such as coaching sports nd directing plays. The AATA's latest salary proosal, which was rejected VTarch 26 by the school board, s a $1.4 million package. This ncludes salary ranges for eachers with bachelor's derees from $6,500 to $11,050, nd for teachers with master's egrees from $7,150 to $12,350. Current starting salary for a eacher with a BA degree is f6,000. For a teacher with an MA, it is $6,300. The teachers are also requesting full hospitalïzation insurance, the continuation of the super-maximum plan (a merit plan of pay increases for veteran teachers), and $10,000 term life Insurance policies. The board has offered a proposal whicti includes $200 raises for those teachers beyond step 10 of the current salary schedule, norma' yearly hikes specified in this year's contract for those teachers below step 10 (these raises average between $400 and $500 per year), fully paid health and accident insurance and the continuation of super-maximum. The Board of Education has not offered $10,000 life insürance policies. The Drooosed hike for veteran teachers would mean an increase in their maximum salaries from $10,140 to $10,340 for those with a BA degree, and from $11,070 to $11,270 for teachers with an MA degree. Newsted said today that the AATA negotiators will present a detailed, financial summary of "every negotiable economie item" requested by the Association within two weeks so that the school board can "appraise the total situation." This summary, which will pinpoint the entire cost of the teachers' demands, will include new proposals for improvements in class size and teacher workload. It has not been decided whether the two teams will meet again next week. Last night's meeting was an executive session. - ■ M'