Wellsville Teachers Seek Support

Monday – February 28: In an effort to drum up some support the Wellsville Teacher's Association (WTA) hosted an open house, free spaghetti dinner this past Monday evening for all Wellsville School District (WSD) residents. The event took place at the Alumni Center on 3rd Street.

The WTA union contract expired July 1, 2010. Proposals from both the union and the WSD were first exchanged around April 15, 2010. The two sides next met in October or November. Their last meeting was on February 9 and they are still without a contract. WTA President Darlene Allison noted they have been advised there may be a meeting scheduled after March 7. Going on for nearly 11 months now they are hoping to soon reach an agreement with the district.

Reading from a prepared statement, Allison noted they are legally bound to not discuss specifics on items currently on the table for negotiation. The WTA has offered many concessions which have all been turned down by the district. On the other hand they find the concessions offered by the district “are just not affordable for us to provide for our families”.

Allison went on explaining “the Board has nearly 2 million dollars at their disposal and yet we are unable to reach an agreement. That is double what they had when we negotiated two years ago when we settled after just a few sessions of negotiating”.

Continuing, Allison read “We are asking for your support in helping us to come to an agreement. We are asking that you not only display signs in your yards but please call the Board members and tell them, you the tax payers and parents, want an agreement reached now. The teachers have always stepped up to the plate and given when our district has been in true financial crisis – even giving back raises to help keep the district afloat. There is 2 million dollars available to pay for both a fair contract and the high quality education we want for all our students. We are not asking for anything that is not easily affordable or that would jeopardize the district in any way”. The WTA members furnished all those attending Monday evening a list of WSD Board of Education members along with their phone numbers.

Additionally the WTA members asked help in opposing Ohio Senate Bill – 5 which they claim will cost jobs and mean salary losses. They provided a list of State Senators on the Insurance, Commerce & Labor Committee along with their phones numbers and e-mail addresses. They asked that you call or e-mail them and tell them to vote no on SB-5. That is the bill trying to restrict organized state workers their bargaining rights.

Before opening the floor to questions Allison noted that the Wellsville teachers are dedicated to the students and their education. They're “asking for a fair and equitable contract, one that the Board can afford. With nearly $3 million carry-over from last year, the Board can afford the contract and the educational improvements we're asking for” she concluded.

Wellsville Councilman Joe Soldano inquired on the time line of all the negotiating sessions. Ohio Education Association Labor Relations Consultant John Avouris responded that there were four meetings in April & May. After that a couple of meetings were scheduled in June. They would have one meeting and cancel the next one. The same happened in August with the Board of Education members saying they would need a couple of months to gather information requested by the WTA. That's when it was decided by the WTA to request a Federal mediator to enter into the talks.

Another resident asked if other insurance carriers have been contacted and Allison responded they are not really sure what's going on. All members did fill out a survey on what was needed for insurance coverage for one company and they are now seeing another insurance company. Allison added the WTA is under the impression that the school district is now paying an extra $20,000 per month for coverage and have been doing that since November.

When contacted this morning WSD Superintendent Rich Bereschik confirmed insurance coverage is costing approximately $20,000 extra a month more than what it did a year ago. However shopping around for better insurance coverage costs had little to do with it. The cost of insurance benefits for district employees increased 19% this year over what it cost last year. The district's five year forecast is predicting another 16% increase in 2012 and a similar amount for 2013.

Bereschik explained that the district is hindered with bargaining for better insurance rates because they are required to accept what is called a “Shelf Policy” for entities with less than 100 employees covered. A Shelf Policy is one where the terms, conditions and costs are set. Being a small district in numbers prohibits bargaining for a customized policy based on actual needs. It's similar to buying a new car that is already in the dealer's show room. It may have more or less than what you were shopping for. WSD has just over 100 employees but only 93 take insurance coverage offered by the school. All employees are covered under the same policy whether they are a member of the WTA or not. The WTA has approximately 64 members.

In the collage above WTA President Darlene Allison is in the top left corner on the microphone. The gentleman in the center is OEA Consultant John Avouris and the others are members of the WTA and residents that were present.

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