Board approves UTW and SEIU contract agreements

The Board of Education approved the employee agreements between the United Teachers of Wichita and the Service Employees Union International during its October 12 meeting.

Highlights of the UTW agreement include:

• Salary freeze for both years
• Step freeze (for years of experience and service) for both years
• Track freeze (for additional education) in 2010-11
• $20 per month employee contribution to the health insurance premium, which may be waived if employees participate in four wellness events during the benefit year
• One fewer contract day during the 2009-10 year (a day that was not planned as a student contact day)
• Reduction in Professional Learning Community time during the 2010-11 school year from 34 to 17 sessions (approximately 11 hours)

The BOE and SEIU were in the second year of a two-year agreement that was only open for salary and benefits discussions. Highlights of the agreement include:

• Salary freeze
• Step freeze (for years of service)
• $20 per month employee contribution to the health insurance premium, which may be waived if employees participate in four wellness events during the benefit year
• Employees who are less than 1.0 FTE pay $40 a month/$480 a year for the health care premium, which is $120 a year less than 2008-2009.

October 13, 2009