Carroll teacher contract settled
By Jennifer Archibald

After more than a year of negotiations, the Carroll School Corporation and the Carroll Education Association have come to an agreement on the teachers' master contract for 2006.

The Carroll School Board unanimously approved the contract at a special meeting Monday night. The agreement was ratified by the teachers earlier that day.

The new salary schedule calls for a 2.5 percent increase for the 2006 calendar year.

Contract negotiations resulted in a restructure of health insurance plans that affect married couples who are both Carroll teachers.

An additional enrollment plan (two single plans for married teachers) was created for current married teachers, both of whom were employed by the Carroll Corporation on Jan. 23, 2007, which was the date of the tentative agreement for settling the contract. A new option allows them to pay the same premium for two single plans as they would have paid for a married teachers family plan.

Married couples who choose the new option are entitled to an adjustment, retroactive to the beginning of 2006, in the form of a lump-sum check or insurance premium holiday (their choice). This applies to three married couples in the corporation.

The previous family plan for married teachers was changed so that when a couple no longer has eligible dependents, they automatically become enrolled in the new two single plans for married teachers.

As part of the new master contract, three consolidated teacher grievances regarding health insurance will be withdrawn by the respective petitioner teachers, as of the salary adjustment date.

Per recommendation of the fact finder, the corporation and the teachers will form a committee to study a 403(b) retirement program for faculty.

The corporation will continue awarding athletic event passes to teachers who have worked a minimum number of school events.

The new master contract just applies to 2006 and only economic issues were considered. Negotiations for the 2007 contract will include both language and money issues.

Both Carroll superintendent John Sayers and CEA president Nancy Sabatini said they are glad that an agreement has finally been reached.

"I am hoping that when we convene for 2007 that we are able to meet and bargain more quickly," Sabatini said.

When Sayers was asked if he thought the 2007 negotiations would go faster than the previous sessions, he said, "I never know."