Schools chief stays optimistic over talks

The sides have been negotiating since spring.
& lt;a href=mailto:leigh@vindy.com & gt;By NORMAN LEIGH & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- With time running out on contracts affecting two city school district labor unions, a school official says he's optimistic about talks aimed at crafting new agreements.
A labor contract expires Monday for about 95 janitors, aides, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and other employees represented by the Ohio Association of Public School Employees.
Aug. 31 is the expiration date for the contract covering about 160 teachers represented by the Salem Education Association.
So far, both unions appear likely to work past their contract expiration dates, schools Superintendent Dr. Dave Brobeck said recently.
Moving ahead
Talks in both sets of negotiations are progressing, Brobeck said without elaborating.
"I'm optimistic" about the prospect of reaching agreements in a timely manner, Brobeck said. "People are listening" on both sides of the bargaining table, he added.
Brobeck wouldn't, however, characterize how close the parties are to reaching agreements.
Treasurer Alice Gunning said the teachers' contract that's now in place, approved in September 2000, provided for annual raises of 3.04 percent, 2.67 percent and 2.81 percent.
The agreement in effect pays a teacher with a master's degree and 30 years of service $54,506 annually.
Beginning teachers with bachelor's degrees earn $25,650.
The contract also calls for the district to pay an additional 5 percent of a teacher's salary toward the educator's retirement. That figure is beyond the 14 percent the district is required by law to pay.
Teachers receive health insurance benefits without having to contribute to monthly premiums.
The coverage costs $943 monthly for a teacher on the family plan and $393 for one on the single plan.
Nonteaching employees
School employees covered by OAPSE last inked a contract in September 2000 that called for annual raises of 3 percent, 2.5 percent and 3 percent, Gunning said.
Top pay for an employee covered by the contract is $17.11 per hour, which is for a maintenance foreman with 20 years of experience.
Bottom of the pay scale is $6.93 an hour for a cafeteria worker.
OAPSE workers have the same insurance and retirement-system contribution benefits as the teachers.
& lt;a href=mailto:leigh@vindy.com & gt;leigh@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;