Published: August 13, 2008 12:34 pm            

Greater Clark County Schools settles 2007-08 contract

After being tabled at last month’s Greater Clark County Schools board meeting, the teachers’ contract for the 2007-08 school year was passed unanimously by the board Tuesday night.

The board also agreed, 7-0, on a contract for 2008-09 that has yet to be ratified by the teachers.

Superintendent Tony Bennett made the recommendation to the board to pass the 2 percent retroactive salary increase for the 2007-08 school year and another 1.5 percent for this school year.

On July 8, he made a very different recommendation. He said he thought it should be tabled, due to a potential unfair labor practice claim. He referred to an article that ran in The Evening News that quoted Nick Wiese, president of the association, as saying an unfair labor practice claim was going to be filed due to the new partially self-insurance model that was adopted this year.

“We felt that needed to be bargained at the table,” Wiese was quoted as saying in that article.

Board president Bob McEwen also referred to the article at that July meeting, saying the potential claim could cause financial ramifications to the corporation.

The group voted 6-1, with Ernie Gilbert voting against, to table the raise.

On Tuesday, Bennett said the issue was brought back because of a great deal of cooperation. He said the agreement illustrates the kind of relationship the corporation has with the Greater Clark Education Association.

Wiese said the cooperation meant holding off on the claim for at least a year. He said the association agreed to give the new health program a year first, then evaluate if it worked or not.

Wiese said he’s happy both contracts passed the board.

“It feels good to get the weight off our shoulders,” he said. “Now, our members can move on and focus on the reason we’re here — for the kids.”

Wiese called the increase “fair.”

“We feel, at this time, this is a good deal for our teachers,” he said. “We’re going to ask them [corporation] to budget more money [for raises] in the future.”

The date to ratify the contract for the 2008-09 school year has not been set. Those with the association said they hope to have that date set soon so that the raise can take effect immediately.

As for the retroactive raise, teachers should expect to receive the pay difference in a lump sum sometime in September, according to Sandy Lewis, general counsel for the corporation.



Construction employee records to be checked

Bennett will ask managers of the construction companies working on the projects at Charlestown High School, Jeffersonville High School and New Washington Middle/High schools to provide information on employees, such as proof of eligibility to work in the United States, after board member Ernie Gilbert raised questions at Tuesday’s meeting.

Gilbert said he has seen a couple of pay stubs from people working on the project which show no taxes are being taken out. He also said during a recent walk-through at JHS, he saw many workers not wearing name badges, which are required by the contract with GCCS.

He made a motion to have board attorney Larry Wilder seek that information, as well as proof of passing criminal background tests and alcohol and drug screenings.

That motion died for lack of a second.

However, Bennett agreed to research the issue and report back to the board.



Parking at CHS

Because of construction at CHS, parking will be at a premium for students. Therefore, the board approved to enter into an agreement with the City of Charlestown to lease property at the corner of Park and Dodge streets — across from the football field — to use as a temporary parking lot during this process.

The board also agreed to do any site work that’s needed to make the area usable for parking.

Bennett said the school resource officer will direct the traffic in the area. Bennett said the officer will be helped out for the first few days of school by city police.

Travis Haire, director of student services, told the board the area does have sidewalks and he will look into whether adding a crosswalk is necessary.



Also at the meeting

• The board approved the contract for speech therapy services with Bilingual Therapies to provide a bilingual therapist for 35 hours per week at a rate of $58.30 an hour.

• The board approved the agreement with Phyllis Manners for diagnostician services through June 30, at a rate of $180 per full academic assessment.

• The board approved the agreement with Ann Stiller for consulting services through June 30, in the area of general education intervention and severe disabilities for $55 per hour, though not to exceed $10,000.

• The board approved the agreement with Betty Thomas for behavior consulting services for the same dates and rates as the above.

• Graduation dates were set: CHS will be at 7 p.m. May 29; JHS will be at 10 a.m. May 30; and NWHS will be at 2 p.m. May 30.

• The board approved salary adjustments — equivalent to those approved for the teachers — for GCCS employees not represented by a bargaining team. Bennett said he will not be included in that group, since he got a raise by taking the job last year and if he wins the election for Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, his time with the corporation will be cut short.

• The board approved the resolution to issue tax anticipation warrants for the general, capital projects and transportation funds for $7 million to Chase Bank.

• The board approved the contract with Wellstone Regional Behavioral Health to provide educational services for students residing as in-patients for the 2008-09 school year.

• The board approved the proposal from Alt & Witzig Engineering for $59,568.50 for construction quality control testing and inspection services on the CHS project.

• The board approved an agreement with Pro Health Physical Therapy to provide athletic training services at CHS for $5,000 through May 31.

• The board approved an agreement with Kentucky Orthopedic Rehab Team, PSC to provide athletic training services for JHS for $7,500 through May 31.

• The board approved a change order in the CHS project totaling $92,442. That order will pay Bruns-Gutzwiller for the track-finishing procedures. Bennett said that money will come from contingency funds, which were set aside at the beginning of the project to pay for unforeseen costs.

• The board also approved an agreement to allow the Board of Commissioners of Clark County to lease land owned by GCCS and to construct, at the county commissioners’ expense, a temporary parking lot on Meigs Avenue. The site is between the Options Alternative School and Cordon Porter buildings.

• The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 9.

        

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