School Board Oks Teachers' Contract

The'Twoyeífr master contract negotiated Aug. 15 with the Ann Arboi Education Association was unanimously ratified last night by the Board of Education. Trustee William C. Godírey and School Board President Joseph R. Julin defended the $670.000 settlement, and criticized a News headline which gave the "unfortunate misconception the board caved in and the people lost again." School Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. said he was "exceptionally pleased" with the contract and hailëd it as a "near model" document. I Ratification of the document by the nearly 900 members of pe AAEA is now the last rennaining obstacle to the opening pf school on time next week. A ratification meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. tomorrow in the Ann Arbor High School auditorium. Harold Collins, president of the Ann Arbor Education AssoKiation, has said he "visualizes tío difficulties" in obtaining ratification. A majority vote is needed to ratify the document. The contract was ratified by tthe trustees following an earlier [briefing session with attorney Richard B. Bailey. Bailey comImented on possible legal problems in the contract. He was asked to provide the board with a written opinión of his views. The salary and fringe-benefit package negotiated with the teachers is worth about $670,000, the superintendent said last night. Last year's settlement totaled $1.57 million. Godfrey called the settlement "a classic collective bargaining agreement in that both sides seem to be satisfied." He said the settlement - which gives approximately a 6 per cent salary increase each of the two years- is "reasonable," especially considering the recent inflationary settlements with the construction trades. Godfrey rapped the "unfortunate" headline in the Aug. 16 editions of The News which he said gave the "unfortunate misconception" the board caved in and the people lost again." Godfrey said, "This is simply not true- it is a good deal, good for the teachers and good for the community." The headline in question said "Teachers Pay Hikes About What Sought." School Board President Joseph R. Julin declared the settlement was "in no measure a capitulation by the Board of Education." He added that the teachers' original demands were approximately $2.5 million. The two-year settlement, the first multi-year contract in the history of the school system, would raise the begnning salary of a teacher with a BA degree from $6,000 to $6,500 in 1968-69. The maximum pay for a teacher with a BA would be increased from $10,140 to $10,700. The starting pay for a teacher with an MA degree would jump from $6,300 to $7,100, while the maximum for a teacher with an MA would be raised from $11,070 to $12,000. During the 1969-70 school year, the BA starting, salary would increase to $7,000. The maximum salary for a teacher wth a BA would be raised to $11,235. The minimum MA salary in 1969-70 would be raised to $7,630, while the maximum salary for a teacher with an MA would jump to $12,600. Fringe benefits include a $10 monthly payment by the board in 1968-69 to be applied to various insurance options. In 1969-70, fully paid family health insurance will be available. Class sizes are approximately the same as last year, with improvements in these areas termed "goals." The "agency shop" clause, stating that as a condition of employment teachers must join the AAEA or pay fees equal to membership dues, was retained in the two-year contract. Negotiations b e t w e e n the school board and AAEA began last November. A state mediator was requested in mid-July when the two sides became stalemated on economie issues. The mediator h e 1 p e d the teams reach a settlement at 6 a.m. on Aug. 15 after a 10-hour marathon bargaining session.