School Board Makes Offer

The Board of Eduffation's negotiating team yesterday offered a new three-part proposal to the Ann Arbor Education Association. The new proposal represents approximately a $40,000 i n c r e a s e over the board's last offer, presented May 21. The AAEA bargainers did not formally respond to the new, plan. The proposal consists of (1) an alteration of the salary schedule index so that all steps on the scale show some improvement, (2) a change in the super-maximum plan (a plan of pay increases for veteran teachers) so that all teachers automatically receive the $600 stipend at the end of their 13th and 16th years, and (3) an allocation of $25,000 to be applied to non-salary item improvements . In the past the super-maximum plan has been allocated on a merit basis, not automatically. Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. said today the two bargaining teams are "making progress." "I think we are moving along constructively," he added. "Both sides are serious about finding an area within which we can reach an agreement," thej superintendent said, "and al-j though the response to our last proposal was not positive, I'rd still confident we will find a package on which we will both agree." Westerman was referring to the Board of Education's previous salary proposal which represented approximately a 2 per cent increase over the 1967-68 salary schedule. Harold Collins, president of the AAEA, declined to comment ion the progress of negotiations. The two teams will meet I again Friday.