Millage Amount Called 'cop-out' By Union Chief

The president of the Ann Arbor Education Association (AAEA) said last night that a millage proposal this June of only 3.73 milis is "bordering on negligence," and predicted that the "low" amount wpuld "force a confrontation in negotiations that can only end up creating ill will and hurting kids, teachers and the system." Specifically asked whether such a "confrontation" might mean a teachers' strike, David R. Harrell replied: "I hope we can keep the confrontation within the negotiating process, but I'm not ruling anything out." Negotiations began March 2 between the Board of Education and AAEA for a 1970-71 teachers' contract. Last week, School Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. recommended the tentative amount of 3.73 milis for operations be put on the June 8 ballot. Harrell called the proposed millage amount a "cop-out," and said the proposed $25,195,196 budget "doesn't even give parents a chance to maintain the present program." Harrell added: "I suspect some of you are telling yourselves that the Association is making this pitch because they want more money for salaries. You're partially right - but we " harr e 1 1 said Westerman's proposed budget provides apparently for around an 8 per cent increase in the salary schedule, and he has stated that he thinks this will keep us competitive." Citing 15 school districts comparable to Ann Arbor which are on two-year contracts, Harrell said it would take an increase of 16 per cent in Ann Arbor s beginning teachers' salary to be competitive with these districts' beginning salaries. would take an increase of 14 per cent to be competitive with their average maximum salaries for master degrees, he added. Harrell said those 15 districts he cited made ments last fall for next year. Harrell concluded by asking the board to "at least give the parents a chance to support the program - the proposed et and millage request is so low that it denies them this chance." Westerman a d m 1 1 1 e d last week his budget and millage proposals were "restrained and "conservative," but he sáid this was delibérate since the taxpayers also will be asked to approve a bonding issue this