Article published August 29, 2008
Swanton teachers reject contract; offer deemed not worthy of vote
By ANGIE SCHMITT
BLADE STAFF WRITER
SWANTON - The Swanton Education Association last night rejected what the board of education called its final contract offer, and the union is making preparations to strike.
The union's 88 teachers, guidance counselors, and other employees deemed the proposal not worthy of a vote, said Steve Brehmer, the union's spokesman.
They met after a lengthy bargaining session Wednesday.
"The union is extremely disappointed and saddened at the offer that was presented to us," Mr. Brehmer said, adding that it included less than the 2.75 percent raise teachers received last year.
"We are making plans for a possible strike," he said. He declined to elaborate on details of the offer.
The union will wait until its one-year contract expires Sunday before issuing a 10-day notice of intent to strike, he said. Teachers on Aug. 18 gave their bargaining team authorization to issue the strike notice.Superintendent Paulette Baz said she is making plans to keep the schools operational without a permanent staff.
The board of education told Ms. Baz Monday to hire the staffing firm Huffmaster Inc. to replace striking teachers should a walkout take place.
"I'm committed and the board is committed to keeping this district open," Ms. Baz said.
"The board of education provided them with a fair and reasonable proposal. I'm disappointed they didn't vote on [it]."
Mr. Brehmer said the union is willing to negotiate if the school board prepares a new offer. But Ms. Baz said the district is committed to maintaining the offer as presented.
"The board's being fiscally responsible," she said. "They have a budget and we live by that budget."
Until a notice of intent to strike is received, it will be business as usual at the schools, she said.
Swanton teachers were paid an average base salary of $46,302 in 2007, compared with $48,459 paid to teachers in similar-sized districts, according to the Ohio Department of Education.
District officials have acknowledged that the teachers' salaries are lower than in some districts in Fulton County, but says that their health benefits are superior.
Swanton teachers pay $12.20 a month for a single plan and $60.89 a month for a family plan, or 2 and 4 percent of the cost, officials said.
The district ended the 2008 fiscal year with a $7.2 million carryover balance, or about 57 percent of its $12.7 million budget. But Treasurer Cheryl Swisher said that decreasing revenues and increasing expenses could jeopardize the district's financial health in the near future.
In November, the district is asking voters to renew its income tax at 0.75 percent, or a half-percentage point less than the 1.25 percent it now collects.
If the levy fails, the district could face a $2.4 million deficit by 2011, Ms. Swisher said.
Contact Angie Schmitt at:
aschmitt@theblade.com
or 419-724-6104.
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