MONROE - There are just three weeks until school starts in the Monroe School District, and teachers are still looking to finalize a new contract.
The previous contract expired June 30, and Monroe Business Manager Ron Olson said if no settlement on the new deal is reached by the first day of school on Sept. 4, teachers will continue working under the previous contract as it states in the handbook.
Olson spoke on the ongoing negotiations before the Monroe Board of Education went into closed session Monday night at Parkside Elementary School.
"I wouldn't say it's unusual," Olson said of not having a new contract with teachers before the first day of school.
He said the cap for a base wage increase for union teachers, based on the state's Consumer Price Index formula, is 2.07 percent. However, there are other steps, experience and other costs for teachers that could get increases.
"We are looking at the final dollar amount and what it would be up to a 2.07 percent for base wages and if there (is an increase) for lanes and steps," Olson said. "Once there is a settlement, it is retroactive."
Due to Act 10, the law approved by Gov. Scott Walker that stripped teachers' unions of collective bargaining rights, Olson said "you can no longer bargain language. You can only bargain wages one year at a time."
Teachers in the district are coming off a two-year salary freeze, and the district's Employee Relations Committee has had several meetings with the Monroe Education Association for negotiations on a new contract. The district has scheduled a negotiations meeting with the MEA at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13. If a deal is struck, the earliest it could be approved would be the next school board meeting on Monday, Aug. 26, unless a special meeting is convened before then.
The board approved a temporary 2013-14 budget in June with a projected $1.24 million deficit, and Olson said a salary increase for teachers had been factored into that figure. Administrators and exempt staff like the food services director and building and grounds director in the district received a 2.06 percent raise for next year.
Even with the administrative increases, Olson said the district is saving $90,000 because the district cut the Monroe Middle School assistant principal position and hired Chris Medenwaldt as the new high school principal and Jeriamy Jackson as the new high school assistant principal. District leaders are also negotiating a contract with the Monroe Association of Support Staff for next year.
The previous contract expired June 30, and Monroe Business Manager Ron Olson said if no settlement on the new deal is reached by the first day of school on Sept. 4, teachers will continue working under the previous contract as it states in the handbook.
Olson spoke on the ongoing negotiations before the Monroe Board of Education went into closed session Monday night at Parkside Elementary School.
"I wouldn't say it's unusual," Olson said of not having a new contract with teachers before the first day of school.
He said the cap for a base wage increase for union teachers, based on the state's Consumer Price Index formula, is 2.07 percent. However, there are other steps, experience and other costs for teachers that could get increases.
"We are looking at the final dollar amount and what it would be up to a 2.07 percent for base wages and if there (is an increase) for lanes and steps," Olson said. "Once there is a settlement, it is retroactive."
Due to Act 10, the law approved by Gov. Scott Walker that stripped teachers' unions of collective bargaining rights, Olson said "you can no longer bargain language. You can only bargain wages one year at a time."
Teachers in the district are coming off a two-year salary freeze, and the district's Employee Relations Committee has had several meetings with the Monroe Education Association for negotiations on a new contract. The district has scheduled a negotiations meeting with the MEA at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13. If a deal is struck, the earliest it could be approved would be the next school board meeting on Monday, Aug. 26, unless a special meeting is convened before then.
The board approved a temporary 2013-14 budget in June with a projected $1.24 million deficit, and Olson said a salary increase for teachers had been factored into that figure. Administrators and exempt staff like the food services director and building and grounds director in the district received a 2.06 percent raise for next year.
Even with the administrative increases, Olson said the district is saving $90,000 because the district cut the Monroe Middle School assistant principal position and hired Chris Medenwaldt as the new high school principal and Jeriamy Jackson as the new high school assistant principal. District leaders are also negotiating a contract with the Monroe Association of Support Staff for next year.