Analysis: What’s in New Camas Teachers Contract? 9.3-12.6% Pay Raises, More
Camas, WA — During Labor Day’s Camas Education Association (CEA) ratification meeting at Camas High School, 391 teachers voted 100% to approve their union’s tentative agreement.
The tentative agreement, which was reached Sunday evening, avoided a teachers strike and helped Camas buck the Clark County strike trend.
But, what’s in it? How long does it last? And, how does it affect the overall Camas School District (CSD) budget over the next two to four years? How does the McCleary law affect the CSD budget?
We spent considerable time with CEA lead negotiator, Mark Gardner, and CSD Superintendent, Jeff Snell to analyze the two-year deal, which is the first of its kind (for Camas) under the new McCleary public school funding model.
So, what’s in it?
- Pay increases of 9.3 (minimum) to 12.6 percent for some at the top end. There has been a total overhaul of the salary schedule, which is based on experience and continued education credits.
- Compensation structure changes: Changes TRI base, adds three voluntary inservice days, and a Personal Development (PD) flat stipend.
- Creates longevity mentor stipend.
For year 1, teachers at the low end of the salary scale get a 9.3% increase, and those on the high end receive a 12.6% increase. In year 2, there is another 4.6% increase for the low end, and 2.6% for the high end. The total cost to taxpayers is approximately $37 million in year 1, and approximately $38 million in year 2.
Under the new model, CSD is eliminating most of the TRI pay and building that into the base salary. But the important points are total compensation.
Starting Teachers
The new deal will pay starting teachers, with a Bachelor’s degree, a total compensation package of $50,727 in year 1. So how does that break down?
Year 1 base salary: $47,431 + 3.3% TRI or $1,565 + 3 voluntary inservice days + Personal Development (PD) Stipend = $50,727, which is an overall increase of 9.28% over last year. Year 2 brings their total compensation to $52,868.
Experienced Teachers
Experienced teachers (16+ years), with a Master’s Degree fare better, and will receive a total compensation package of $97,528 in year 1.
Year 1 base salary: $89,339 + 3.3% TRI or $2,950 + 3 Voluntary inservice days + PD flat stipend = $97,529, which is a 12.6% increase over last year. Year 2 brings their total compensation to $100,110.
The teachers left the CEA ratification meeting very happy.
The new deal also creates a longevity mentor stipend, which was a concept the district brought to the table. That’s how the negotiators were able to get to the six-figure salary offer for teachers at the high end. Gardner believed that CSD couldn’t get to six figures, as he insists the district is “over-staffed,” meaning they exceed the state standards for full-time employees.
“They are very common throughout the state, but Camas has never had it,” said Gardner, of the longevity mentor stipend. “Historically, teachers at 16+ years of service remain stagnant in their pay, so this is a way to reward them for their service. The longevity stipend offsets that. The district is shuffling some of that pool of money and rewarding those veteran teachers so we can retain and attract experienced teachers.”
Snell said that it was clear that a competitive top end salary was a priority for CEA and they had to be creative in finding a way to get there. The longevity mentor stipend is a different way to provide compensation that is not applied to the entire salary schedule. “We have an outstanding, veteran staff,” said Snell. “This was a way that the district and CEA were able to come together and figure out a way to honor the service they provide.”
“We did a top end stipend for longevity, which was a creative way to get there,” Snell said. “It gives us capacity in the future. Longevity mentor stipend is a separate funding source that got us to mirror other districts. We have veteran staff so it costs us more to apply to the whole schedule. We looked at the top end and figured out a way to honor them. It means that if you’re at the top end, it allows us to get to six figures.”
Veteran teacher Andrea McCarty is thrilled. We spoke with her right after the ratification vote.
”I’m so happy with this, but I’m still digesting the details,” said McCarty, a veteran Camas teacher. “It’s nice to know we’re appreciated.”
Camas Superintendent, Jeff Snell, at Prune Hill on the first day of school.
Budget issues
The new McCleary funding model also brings with it serious CSD budget issues.
At their CSD School Board budget review session on August 13, budget forecasts revealed a 3.8% layoff projection, which was based on a pay raise of 3.1%. This is the reality of the new McCleary model. So, what does a 9.3-12% pay increase to do the budget?
Snell says the new two-year agreement gives the district time to come up with solutions, however, he adds “we have a tough road ahead under the new funding model.”
We’ve done a thorough analysis that shows major budget deficits in two to three years — if nothing changes. The data analysis has been backed by multiple third-party reviews. The next article focuses on public education funding in the new McCleary era, the size of those projected deficits, and will examine the very real challenges that CSD needs to resolve in the next two to three years.
Stay tuned.
For now, Snell is happy schools are in session, and he looks forward to resolving the challenges that are coming.
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- The union called him “Captain America” and he politely asked media to leave.
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- The front page of the CEA agreement.
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- Page one of the union’s Salary Schedule.
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- Andrea McCarty exits the CEA ratification meeting Monday night.
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- Several CEA members avoided a strike.
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- Mark Gardner is one of the CEA bargaining negotiators.
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Parents are in for a *shock* when they find out that unless McCleary is overhauled, our school district will be bankrupted within a few years. I’ll pressure Olympia to do that, but I’m not naive in thinking there is some magical easy fix. I met with District 18 Senator, Ann Rivers, on Thursday, and implored her to work to give us our levy back and she bluntly told me that we will *not* get our levy back. And CSD isn’t an anomaly – districts with settled agreements are forcasting bankruptcy across our state, the majority of them (read, people!). Furthermore, I don’t buy Mark Gardner’s justification for pushing for an unsustainably high agreement that we have 20 too-many staff. We have some seriously amazing young, energized faculty and I don’t want to see a movement by Gardner, et al, to target them for the first, now inevitable lay-offs. Our admin and school board are the ones who should take the lead on how to implement the painful budget cuts that lie ahead. I would also like to know if the CEA bargaining team informed their membership before the ratification vote that a yes-vote would put Camas School District on the path towards insolvency within 2-3 years?? I don’t think our teachers knew that (LACAMAS MAGAZINE – that is a question I hope you ask in your continued reporting). If the bargaining team thinks Olympia will save us, I am deeply disappointed. That is one hell of a highly leveraged bet that doesn’t serve the best interests of the kids. What serves the kids is being able to have a school district, not open us up to a big state take-over of public ed that could lead to consolidation of districts, charter school expansion, etc. I am *not* happy.
Public Service Announcement: EVERYONE who is concerned about our school district being on a path to insolvency can call our Legislative District’s lawmakers and demand they give us our levy back!!! The reason I got a face-to-face with our State Senator is because I was an active citizen and I made a phone call. Wake up people!! And Camas Parents Supporting Camas Teachers! Here you go, it’s so easy: Senator Ann Rivers – 360-786-7634. Brandon Vick, House Representative – 360-723-0704. Liz Pike is retiring so she won’t be there in January. But you can VOTE BLUE in November for the two candidates running for our state House Rep seats because they are pledging to help school districts get our funding back. Those candidates are Chris Thobaben – Democrat 18th LD Position 1 and Democrat Kathy Gillespie for 18th District – 2. Everyone WAKE UP.
Vote Blue!! it is the Blue (Dems) who created this mess, they have controlled the state legislature and gov house for the last 15 years with a few years where the Repubs held only the senate. Yes vote blue for the same ol crap. Aunna Elm you should wake up
The GOP had a huge hand in how McCleary was crafted and the Republicans I have spoken to (Rivers and Vick) don’t appear motivated to fix their “fix” when the legislature opens in the new year. So yes, I am voting for candiates who pledge that they will work to get our levies back, absolutely. http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/state-senate-gop-releases-sweeping-schools-funding-plan/
*Candidates*
I have been researching this issue further and have concluded there is blame to go around. Both parties are responsible for the crafting and passing of this legislation. In this regard, the issue we now face should transcend political parties- I hope collectively we can impress upon all of these politicians the critical importance of giving us our levy back. In the case of Camas, we were only one year into our four-year voter approved levy and it was undemocratic of the legislature to take it away from us. By now, I have called all District 18 legislators to complain about this, as well as the candidates running for the two open House seats, the State Superintendent, and the Governor. I hope this community can come together to focus on getting our school funding back. Our school district is integral to this community.