Negotiations to take place again for Poland schools’ contract

Staff report

poland

Teachers in Poland are still working without a contract, but Superintendent David Janofa said he is in discussion with the teachers-union president about when to meet for negotiations with a mediator.

The teachers former two-year contract ended in August 2013.

The teachers union, the Poland Education Association, voted against a contract offer in December.

“The teachers remain committed to the negotiation process and we can work through the issues with the board in a timely manner,” said Ron Rowe, president of the roughly 127-member union.

Rowe said there was a “strong showing of teachers” who voted in December.

“We believed we had a meeting of the minds [in September], but that turned out not to be the case,” Rowe said. “We remain hopeful that we can get something done certainly within the coming weeks.”

Janofa said he, Rowe and the board president at the time, Beau Weaver, signed a tentative agreement in September.

Current board president, James Lavorini, would not comment on any possible issues the teachers union may have with the new contract.

“That’s one of the things we want to sit down and make sure we really understand,” he said.

Rowe would not disclose details of the contract offer. The intention is to have a three-year contract, he said.

The starting salary for a Poland school teacher is about $34,000.

The top salary with 27 years’ experience and a master’s degree is about $73,791.

The top salary with 27 years’ experience and a doctorate is $75,831.

In addition, teachers pay 5 percent of their health care costs.

All salaries make up about 80 percent of the school district’s annual budget.