Wapakoneta teachers face ‘last, best and final’ offer from board [The Lima News, Ohio]

Dec. 03--WAPAKONETA -- The saga between the Wapakoneta school board and its teachers is nearing a possible end, but not necessarily an agreed upon one.

Eight months after beginning negotiations with teachers and two weeks after filing an unfair-labor practice charge against the union, the school board has submitted its "last, best and final" contract offer.

"Our preferred option is to reach an agreement, but after a dozen bargaining sessions since April and with no end in sight, we have to move the district forward," Superintendent Keith Horner said.

The offer would be implemented unilaterally Jan. 1 unless the union agrees earlier to the terms of the offer. Pat Johnson, labor relations consultant with the Ohio Education Association, said in a prepared statement that the union is disappointed, but not surprised by the board's action.

"Such action has been indicated by the Board of Education when the board unilaterally declared an end to bargaining. Both parties in the past have been able to come to a resolution with contract talks; this action is unprecedented," she said. "The Wapakoneta Education Association will be addressing its options and remedies as a result of the board's action. As far as the Wapakoneta Education Association is concerned, the bargaining process has not ended and the Wapakoneta Education Association is ready and willing to go back to the bargaining table."

The offer is for three years and would give teachers no base raises during the contract. There would be no automatic step increases based on longevity in the second and third years of the contract. Teachers would also pick up more in insurance costs. They would pay more each year of the contract.

The union and board began negotiating in April. The two sides brought in a federal mediator from Dayton in August. The two sides have met 12 times. The teachers are currently working under the former two-year contract, which expired June 30.

In the unfair labor practice charge filed with the State Employment Relations Board, the school board argued that the union bargained in bad faith by canceling meetings and bringing different members to negotiating sessions.

Union officials said they were surprised by the charge, saying they have been in compliance with the current contract and that the practices of the negotiating team have been the same as past years. Multiple calendars to deal with and a medical issue played a part in canceled meetings, union officials said.

Like most districts, Wapakoneta faces difficult financial times. The district had $1.2 million of deficit spending last fiscal year, which ended June 30. It is projected to spend $1.6 million more than its annual revenue this year. The board will need to implement more cost savings even after implementing the board's offer to teachers, Horner said.

"In this economy, sacrifice is required by all to maintain our core programs for students," he said. "What we have been asking in negotiations is not out of line with trends around the state affecting all school districts."

The district's administrators and tax-exempt employees took a pay freeze this year. The board and classified have a tentative two-year agreement. Employees will vote on the deal next week. If ratified, the board would then consider it. Horner declined to release terms of the contract until both sides vote.

You can comment on this story at www.limaohio.com.

___

(c)2011 The Lima News (Lima, Ohio)

Visit The Lima News (Lima, Ohio) at www.limaohio.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services