Optimism Stressed In Teacher Talks

Guarded optimism is the by (word these days among negotiators for the Board of Education and the Ann Arbor [Education Association. i Although no agreement for a 1968-69 contract has yet been reached after IVi months of bargaining, both sides appear to be optimistic about reaching a settlement fairly s o o n. (Last year, a settlement was reached July 12 and ratified Aug. 23.) And both sides are increasing]y h o p e f u 1 that a teachers' strike will be averted. "I think nobody . . . on either side looks with any enthusiasm toward a strike situation," Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. comImented. "We want very much !to avoid it." James Scheu and Harold Collins, executive secretary and president, respectively, of the AAEA, likewise expressed optimism over the progress of the talks. "But the possibility of a strike still exists, of course, in spite of our optimism," Scheu cautioned. "A strike is one of the last desires of the teachers," Collins declared. "But at the same time, they have made it clear they will not accept inadequate salaries." Scheu agreed that a strike would be a move of "desperación." "Nobody in the AAEA would want to see this happen. I find the idea of withholding services absolutely appalling, but if we are forced to this extreme, we will strike with no apologies to the Board of Education or the communit y," Scheu said. W hi 1 e the possibility of a strike cannot be discounted, then, talks between the two teams appear to be on an upward note. After last Thursday's bargaining session, Westermau, the board's chief negotiator, tpmarked he was "counting" on reaching a settlement before Labor Day - perhaps even by late this month. Scheu and Collins agreed they were "very hopeful" an agreement would be reached soon. "Although we are still quite far apart dollarwise," Scheu said, "the attitude of both negotiating teams now seems much more positive." To be exact, the board aad teachers are $852,000 apart in thcir proposals. The AAEA's latest proposal on June 13 requested a $1,205,000 package. This includes a salary range for teachers with a bachelor's degree from $6,500 to $11,050, and for teachers with a master's degree from $7,150 ;o $12,350; fully-paid health and ïospitalization insurance; $7,500 : e r m life insurance policies, and the continuation of supermaximum- a merit plan of pay increases for veteran teachers. The school board's latest proposal, detailed on June 18, offers a total of $353,000 over the 1967-68 settlement, which totaled $1.57 million. The board is offering a range of $6,300 to $10,140 for teachers with a bachelor's degree, and from $6,610 to $11,310 for teachers with a master's. They are also offerir.g a change in the super-maximum plan, so that all teachers automatically receive the $600 stipend at the end of their 13th and 16th years. Also offered is $125,000 to be applied to fringe and non-salary benefits. The teachers' original request on Dec. 12 totalled $2.5 million in salary and fringe benefits. The board's first offer on Jan. 16 proposed no pay increases, but instead a one-year extensión of the 1967-68 salary schedule - a proposal angrily rejected by the teachers. The range for a teacher with a BA degree last year in the Ann Arbor public schools was $6,000 to $10,140. For a teacher with an MA, it was $6,300 to $11,070. Approximately 135 school districts in Michigan have already signed contraéis for the 1968-69 school year. The average BA range is $6,371 to $9,250. The average MA range is $6,787 to $9,950. according to a report furnished by Supt. Westerman's office. In districts which are closer in population to the Ann Arbor School District, however, the salary range is considerably higher- from $6,734 to $10,698 for a BA degree, and from $7,198 to $11,714 for an MA degree. With $852,000 presently separating the school board and the AAEA, hcw might a settlement be achieved? "It's obvious that both sides will have to give," Westerman remarked. "Our last offer cannot be our last." Scheu and Collins also commented that both sides are now "re-examining their positions." Westerman a 1 s o conceded ;here "will have to be some judget adjustments to find additional funds" to settle with ;he teachers. Some possible 'options" which Westerman is considering are: (1) an adjustment oí pupil-teacher ratio; (2) program alterations; (3) not ipening King Elementary and Hurón High for the winter semester of 1969, even if they are ready by that time. This last option, however, is listasteful to the superintendent. "We would be breaking 'aith with the public," he says, )ecause the voters were told aart of the millage funds apDroved June 10 were for the opening of these two schools, along with Scarlett Junior High. There seems to be little disagreement over non-eccnomic ssues, and both sides also agree ;hat an outside mediator should not be called in to resolve the dispute unless it becomes "ob- vious" no' settlement can bei reached. "We think we will be much better off if we can resolve these things 1 o c a 1 1 y," Scheu said. But the teachers are determineü to negotiate an "equitable settlement" - a good academie program plus "adequate" salaries. One sign of their determination is an agreement by the secondary class advisers and the football coaches, according to Collins, to withhold their services untií a contract is negotiated or until the AAEA negotiating team advises them otherwise. Usually, these instructors begin work one oi two weeks early. This agreement is in keeping! with a "no contract, no work", resolution passed overwhelmingly by the members of the AAEA May 22. One more optimistic note about negotiations this year than last is the status of teacher and professional s t a f f hirings. Last year, the master agreement between the Board of Education and the AAEA was not ratified until Aug. 23 - a fact which caused considerable havoc in the hiring of new teachers and professional staff. But recently, Director of Personnel Thad Carr said he feit "fairly comfortable" all of the approximately 230 professional vacancies for the 1968-69 school year would be filled. Deñnite contracts cannot be signed vvith the new personnel until the master agreement between the Board óf Education and the AAEA is ratified. But "letters of intent" have been sent to the 230 persons, Carr says. And a "majority have indicated they will sign a contract" this fall, according to the terms of the contract settlement. The personnel director says the letters of intent contain a copy of last year's salary schedule, along with a note that "some improvemerit" is hoped for this year. The estimated .230 vacancies include 60 new teachers needed to instruct the anücipated 1,016 new pupils next year. The remaining vacancies are the result of resignations. The negotiating teams will meet bi-weekly, and more often if necessary, until an agreement is reached. They have met 18 times since Nov. 28, 1967.