Hillsboro schools vote to accept contract
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education has voted to accept three-year contracts for the teachers and employees unions, with no increases. However, the district has agreed to a one-time lump sum payment of 2 percent.
The board discussed the matter for nearly an hour in executive session Wednesday during their regular monthly meeting, and later voted 5-0 to accept the contract, with no discussion open session.
Following the meeting, Superintendent Rick Earley said that there were some small changes in the contracts, and "some give and take in the teachers' contract," which included funds to go toward tuition for continuing education and certification.
"They also gave up some things (to receive the education funds)," Earley said. "But there was no extra money."
Both the Hillsboro Education Association (HEA) and the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE) will receive a 2 percent, one-time, lump sum, according to Earley, noting there was "nothing on the base salary."
The HEA members will receive 1 percent at the beginning of the year, before taxes and the other half at the end of the year, after taxes. The OAPSE will receive their 2 percent at once at the end of the year, he said.
Though it is a three-year contract, Earley said that the "fringes and salaries are re-negotiated every spring."
Additionally, Earley said that, "We were able to get a lot more teachers to switch to the the health savings account (HSA, for health insurance) which is a savings to the district."
Earley said that this was his first negotiation since becoming superintendent, and that he was pleased with the overall process and outcome.
"Both unions were very understanding, understanding of where we are coming from and what we are trying to do," he said. "I'm very pleased with the way it went. They have to be comfortable with me, and this was my first negotiation, and I think we have a good relationship. Everyone was very congenial. I believe in being very straightforward and very honest in where we are coming from. I'm not going to say there weren't disagreements, but if there hadn't been, it would have been the shortest negotiations in history."
Earley said that the results of the contract negotiations put the district in a good position to look to the future.
Board member Ken Shull, of the board's budget committee, had reported during the meeting that with potential cuts in state funding, the district could realistically be looking at a decrease of $2 million.
"Expenditures are well under control," Shull said. "The problem is a revenue problem. With state funding, we are looking at what could be a cut of 15-20 percent, which is $2 million for this school district. In the not-too-distant future we need to look at what we are going to do if we lose $2 million in state funding."
District treasurer Debbie Lawwell told the board in her report that funds at the end of October were $4,724,471, compared to this time last year when they were at $5,010,398.
Board president Laura Bagshaw also noted that revenue from income taxes had been down for the quarter.
In other business:
• The board voted 6-0 (with student board member Cynthia Roush voting) to approve a contract with the Goshen Local School District for student data mapping software in the amount of $5,713. Earley said the software will allow teachers to review academic profiles of each district student, which would include information such as standardized test scores and intervention efforts from kindergarten to their current grade. While the information has always been previously available to teachers, they would have to look through multiple files and notebooks. "Now, they'll have it with just one mouse click," Earley said.
• Bagshaw reported that she has been asked by the Ohio School Board Association to serve as one of two board members within Ohio's Third Congressional District to represent the area in in Washington D.C. during a convening of the Nation School Board Association. During the February event, Bagshaw said she would receive two days of training and then would spend a day with the district's representative, Congressman Mike Turner (R-Centerville).
"We don't have too many opportunities to represent at this level," Bagshaw said.
The other board members voiced that they agreed it was a good opportunity for the district.
• The board voted 6-0 to approve the financial reports; and to approve transfers in the amount of $1,000 from the class of 2010 to the class of 2012, and $38,600 from the OASBO pool principal/interest, to account 002-5100-9000.
• Voted 6-0 to approve a contract with Josh Wilkin Excavating for $35 per hour for snow removal and salt application. Lawwell noted that this was the same as last year's contract, and that two bids had been received, with the Wilkin contract being the cheapest.
• Voted 6-0 to approve a bid from the Kelley Brothers Roofing for $34,775 for roof maintenance and roof coating at Hillsboro Elementary. Bagshaw said that the maintenance is to be in compliance with the district's warranty on the roof.
• Voted 6-0 to approve the following resignations: Constance Daniels, a substitute teacher, resigning due to moving out of state; Ingrid Griffith, resigning as head volleyball coach effective Oct. 6; Rob Jackson, resigning from assistant varsity boys basketball coach effective Oct. 28; Patty Long, resigning as night head custodian effective Oct. 21. The board also voted 6-0 to approve maternity leave for an employee, along with an additional unpaid leave of absence through the end of the school year.
• Voted 6-0 to approve the following employment contingent upon satisfactory background checks and proper certification: sub certificated - Pam Pinney, Erin Pitzer, Lynette Turner; mentor - Dave Hilliard; sub classified - Rebecca Davidson, Candice Mechlin; volunteers - Samuel Fenner, Kyla Kellough, Glenna Ross, James Ross; after school tutoring - Sue Boatman, Scott Croper, Elaine Gilliland, Emiily Jeffers, Carol Massie, Lynn Musser, Susan Roland; supplementals - Adam Bagshaw, varsity assistant boys coach; Steven Whitley, freshman boys basketball coach.
Earley said that regarding tutoring, there were "no certificate teachers who would stand up to volunteer and I'm not going to turn away any student who needs help from getting help." He said that the district has funds from "a federal homeless grant, for students considered homeless, or doubled-up," which provides transportation and funds.
• The board voted 6-0 to re-appont board member Beverly Rhoads to serve as the liaison to the Laurel Oakes board.
• The board scheduled its 2011 budget hearing to be held Jan. 10 at 5 p.m. in the library at Hillsboro High School, and the public is welcome to come in and review numbers and ask questions to the board. A finance committee meeting will be held on that date at 4:30 p.m. The board's organizational meeting will begin at 5:15 p.m.
The board agreed that beginning in January board meeting will be held in the high school library or another similar space with "smart boards" or other technology to be incorporated into the meetings.
The Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education has voted to accept three-year contracts for the teachers and employees unions, with no increases. However, the district has agreed to a one-time lump sum payment of 2 percent.
The board discussed the matter for nearly an hour in executive session Wednesday during their regular monthly meeting, and later voted 5-0 to accept the contract, with no discussion in open session.
Following the meeting, Superintendent Rick Earley said that there were some small changes in the contracts and "some give and take in the teachers' contract," which included funds to go toward tuition for continuing education and certification.
"They also gave up some things (to receive the education funds)," Earley said. "But there was no extra money."
Both the Hillsboro Education Association (HEA) and the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE) will receive a 2-percent, one-time, lump sum, according to Earley, noting there was "nothing on the base salary."
The HEA members will receive 1 percent at the beginning of the year, before taxes, and the other half at the end of the year, after taxes. The OAPSE will receive their 2 percent at once at the end of the year, he said.
Though it is a three-year contract, Earley said that the "fringes and salaries are re-negotiated every spring."
Additionally, Earley said that, "We were able to get a lot more teachers to switch to the health savings account (HSA, for health insurance), which is a savings to the district."
Earley said that this was his first negotiation since becoming superintendent, and that he was pleased with the overall process and outcome.
"Both unions were very understanding, understanding of where we are coming from and what we are trying to do," he said. "I'm very pleased with the way it went. They have to be comfortable with me, and this was my first negotiation, and I think we have a good relationship. Everyone was very congenial. I believe in being very straightforward and very honest in where we are coming from. I'm not going to say there weren't disagreements, but if there hadn't been, it would have been the shortest negotiation in history."
Earley said that the results of the contract negotiations put the district in a good position to look to the future.
Board member Ken Shull, of the board's budget committee, had reported during the meeting that with potential cuts in state funding, the district could realistically be looking at a decrease of $2 million.
"Expenditures are well under control," Shull said. "The problem is a revenue problem. With state funding, we are looking at what could be a cut of 15-20 percent, which is $2 million for this school district. In the not-too-distant future, we need to look at what we are going to do if we lose $2 million in state funding."
District treasurer Debbie Lawwell told the board in her report that funds at the end of October were $4,724,471, compared to this time last year when they were at $5,010,398.
Board president Laura Bagshaw also noted that revenue from income taxes had been down for the quarter.
In other business:
• The board voted 6-0 (with student board member Cynthia Roush voting) to approve a contract with the Goshen Local School District for student data mapping software in the amount of $5,713. Earley said the software will allow teachers to review academic profiles of each district student, which would include information such as standardized test scores and intervention efforts from kindergarten to their current grade. While the information has always been previously available to teachers, they would have to look through multiple files and notebooks. "Now, they'll have it with just one mouse click," Earley said.
• Bagshaw reported that she has been asked by the Ohio School Board Association to serve as one of two board members within Ohio's Third Congressional District to represent the area in in Washington D.C. during a convening of the National School Board Association. During the February event, Bagshaw said she would receive two days of training and then would spend a day with the district's representative, Congressman Mike Turner (R-Centerville).
"We don't have too many opportunities to represent at this level," Bagshaw said.
The other board members voiced that they agreed it was a good opportunity for the district.
• The board voted 6-0 to approve the financial reports; and to approve transfers in the amount of $1,000 from the class of 2010 to the class of 2012, and $38,600 from the OASBO pool principal/interest, to account 002-5100-9000.
• Voted 6-0 to approve a contract with Josh Wilkin Excavating for $35 per hour for snow removal and salt application. Lawwell noted that this was the same as last year's contract, and that two bids had been received, with the Wilkin contract being the cheapest.
• Voted 6-0 to approve a bid from the Kelley Brothers Roofing for $34,775 for roof maintenance and roof coating at Hillsboro Elementary. Bagshaw said that the maintenance is to be in compliance with the district's warranty on the roof.
• Voted 6-0 to approve the following resignations: Constance Daniels, a substitute teacher, resigning due to moving out of state; Ingrid Griffith, resigning as head volleyball coach effective Oct. 6; Rob Jackson, resigning from assistant varsity boys basketball coach effective Oct. 28; Patty Long, resigning as night head custodian effective Oct. 21. The board also voted 6-0 to approve maternity leave for an employee, along with an additional unpaid leave of absence through the end of the school year.
• Voted 6-0 to approve the following employment contingent upon satisfactory background checks and proper certification: sub certificated - Pam Pinney, Erin Pitzer, Lynette Turner; mentor - Dave Hilliard; sub classified - Rebecca Davidson, Candice Mechlin; volunteers - Samuel Fenner, Kyla Kellough, Glenna Ross, James Ross; after school tutoring - Sue Boatman, Scott Cropper, Elaine Gilliland, Emiily Jeffers, Carol Massie, Lynn Musser, Susan Roland; supplementals - Adam Bagshaw, varsity assistant boys coach; Steven Whitley, freshman boys basketball coach.
Earley said that regarding tutoring, there were "no certificate teachers who would stand up to volunteer, and I'm not going to turn away any student who needs help from getting help." He said that the district has funds from "a federal homeless grant, for students considered homeless, or doubled-up," which provides transportation and funds.
• The board voted 6-0 to re-appoint board member Beverly Rhoads to serve as the liaison to the Laurel Oaks board.
• The board scheduled its 2011 budget hearing to be held Jan. 10 at 5 p.m. in the library at Hillsboro High School, and the public is welcome to come in and review numbers and ask questions to the board. A finance committee meeting will be held on that date at 4:30 p.m. The board's organizational meeting will begin at 5:15 p.m.
The board agreed that beginning in January, board meetings will be held in the high school library or another similar space with "smart boards" or other technology to be incorporated into the meetings.