Carroll teachers to get 2% raise this year and next
By Jennifer Archibald Staff writer

Carroll Consolidated School Corporation and the Carroll Education Association have reached an agreement on a two-year master contract, extending through August 2009.

The teachers' last contract extended through Dec. 31, 2006.

As part of the new agreement, the salary schedule will be based on a school year rather than a calendar year, resulting in 26 equal pays for the teachers.

Superintendent John Sayers said in the 2007 portion of the 2006-2007 school year, teachers' pay will increase 1% over the 2006 salary schedule. He said the increase in 2007-2008 will be 2% more than the 2006- 2007 schedule, and the increase in 2008-2009 will be 2% more than the 2007-2008 schedule.

Sayers added that there also will be a 2% increase in the extracurricular salary schedule for this school year and next.

He said another provision of the contract calls for a 403 matching annuity to be put into place, with the corporation paying up to 1/2% in 2007- 2008 and up to 3/4% in 2008- 2009.

He said vision insurance is another new benefit, with a portion to be paid by the corporation.

Both Sayers and CEA president Mike Miller indicated that negotiations were conducted in a positive manner. The contract was approved unanimously on both sides. Both said Uniserve Director Craig Blume was helpful in the process, and both sides are pleased to have a twoyear contract.

Sayers called the contract a "reasonable settlement."

Representatives from the board and teachers' association will serve on a Wellness Benefits Committee to talk about insurance issues.

"The committee will look at different companies that can provide the best product while maintaining costs for both the teachers and the corporation," Miller said.

He said a discussion committee will be formed to look at other issues, including updating an evaluation instrument used by administrators concerning teachers. Recommendations will then be made to the negotiations committee.

"As with any negotiations, therewere some tensemoments, but I believe that both the CEA and the school board bargaining teams are looking forward to the beginning of a new era of trust and understanding,"Miller said. "Both sides are in agreement that instead of approaching every situation as a 'we-them'scenario, it will be approached as an 'us.' We are in this together."