Rutherford County teachers headed back to bargaining table on The Murfreesboro Post

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Rutherford County teachers headed back to bargaining table

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By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer

Posted: Wednesday, September 3, 2008 3:40 pm

Negotiations have stalled between the Rutherford County Board of Education and the Rutherford Education Association with disagreements over bereavement leave, raises for central office staff and general working conditions.

“Our proposals will strengthen our schools and make things better for teachers, children, and the communities in which we teach,” new Rutherford Education Association President Pamela Jones said.

Negotiations are set to continue at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the RCS Central Office. The meeting is open to the public.

REA is asking for the addition of three bereavement days to attend funerals.

“Currently, an educator who has no sick or personal leave remaining is docked pay in the event they have to attend a funeral or tend to family business in a time of grieving,” said REA Chief Negotiator Keith Cornelius.

RCS contends the current system of 10 sick days and two personal days annually can be used for bereavement if necessary.

“These days can be stockpiled over multiple years,” said James Evans, RCS spokesman. “While we’re not insensitive to family needs in times of tragedy, we do want to keep teachers in the classroom instead of substitutes whenever possible. We feel the existing 12 days is adequate and appropriate.”

REA is also angry about proposed raises for the staff development and testing coordinator; the adult education coordinator; the special education coordinator; and the Title I coordinator. These four members of the central office staff will receive raises of an average about $3,000 each.

“The change has become necessary due to increased work duties related to the growth of our system, the number of people they supervise and the No Child Left Behind mandates,” Evans said.

Rutherford County teachers are receiving a 2-percent raise from local government, but Gov. Phil Bredesen cut the state-funded portion to balance the state budget. So teacher raises are less this year than they have been in the past.

The locally fund raise averages to about $400 per teacher per year, according to REA. But, RCS also points to annual step raises, which averages to another $1,000 per year for each year in the school system.

REA is also concerned working conditions are leading young teachers to seek employment elsewhere.

“This turnover often has a negative effect on the continuity of instruction since the county has to constantly retrain newcomers,” REA said in a press release.

Evans contends the system is not facing any kind of teacher shortage or a “a mass exodus of teachers to other districts, despite claims from the REA otherwise.

“In fact, the school system is constantly flooded with applications from prospective teachers and has been able to recruit and maintain some of the highest qualified teachers in the area,” Evans said.

The REA’s concerns came to light as part of the annual negotiations for a teachers’ contract.

“The REA is committed to working for a strong contract that has a positive impact on our students, teachers, administrators, and community members,” Jones said.

RCS hopes the issues can be resolved and a contract can be reached with REA as soon as possible. If a resolution can not be reached the two parties will seek mediation, Evans said.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.

Tagged under RCS

Member Opinions:

By: 5014 on 9/3/08
bargaining table?

Bargaining would indicate some type of talks between the RCS and the Board of Education. I only see and hear of underhanded tactics by the board (i.e. turning off the a/c while the teachers are there) How would the community respond if the teachers acted towards the students in some of the ways the board is acting towards the teachers?

Hey, board...grow up and stop acting like a spoiled 13 yr old girl.

The Board of Education seems to think barganing is all about give and take. The teachers "give" and the board "takes"...

I say let my teacher have the time to go to a funeral and give my sons teacher the time to prepare for class. And let them keep the $5 a day (or less) raise

By: barrettbear on 9/4/08
There are some things I agree with and some things I disagree with is to how teachers fare in the classroom. However, these gracious people went to college to teach our own. Now listen, there is more to teaching besides books in the room. They have on average about 150 different personalities to deal, one gets sick then nursing, consultants to parents, planning and preparing the class,etc. and this is related somewhat to the moving yellow classroom (buses). Bargain? Hah!!!

By: Boo on 9/4/08
I'd like to know just what all these "coordinators" do to earn this $3,ooo. raise that's more important than all that our hard working teachers do for out children and all the crap they have to put up with from unruly students and ignorant parents?

By: justdance on 9/8/08

Amen to all above!!!!