(This story by Derek Carson was published in the Bennington Banner on June 6, 2017.)
BENNINGTON — With the current contract’s expiration date looming, teachers and board representatives from the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union remain in negotiation about salary and benefit details.
Mount Anthony Union High School teacher Michael Molloy, who has been the mouthpiece of the teachers throughout the negotiation process, said at last week’s negotiations that the teachers had amended their salary proposal. Previously they had sought a 3.5 percent increase plus step increases, which last week they modified down to an all-inclusive 3.5 percent increase, which Molloy argued was justified due to the SVSU lagging behind neighboring districts in salary.
“One of the things we were trying to do is recognize that our surrounding districts, right now, in FY17, start at about $40,000,” said Molloy, “Arlington, before negotiations, is at $39,500 right now, so for us to try and get to where they are in two years kind of makes sense for us. We are well below where those neighboring districts are beginning.”
The teachers also proposed adding a step to the top of the chart by FY20, at a base salary of $73,788, to bring the schools of the SVSU in line with maximum teacher salaries from surrounding districts. “As of right now, FY17, in Arlington, their max is $73,356, so we’re hoping in three years to be where they’re at right now,” said Molloy, “As a community that’s something we’re trying to level, between where we’re at and where Manchester is right now, and where Brattleboro and Windham are right now, and where Arlington is right now. This is another step kind of moving in that direction.”
Molloy said that earlier in negotiations, the board representatives had said they had 3 percent new money available to put into salaries for FY18. “This is 3.5 percent new money, but I do think with the health care … there’s savings for us, there’s savings for you guys as far as the health care goes, so we thought putting a 3.5 percent proposal for new money was fair.”
The step system ties teacher salaries to experience and qualifications. For FY17, in the Battenkill Valley Supervisory Union the starting salary is $39,439 and the maximum is $73,356; in the Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union salaries range from $39,800 and $72,018; and in the Windham Central Supervisory Union the range is $40,486 to $72,170; and Windham Southwest Supervisory Union ranges from $38,079 to $70,160, according to Molloy. The teachers’ proposal would see the SVSU’s range increased to $40,290 to $73,788 in increments by FY20. After an executive session to discuss the details of the proposal, SVSU legal counsel said that the board was not yet ready to respond officially. He said he would get a counterproposal to the teachers by the next negotiating session, which is currently scheduled for June 12. Both the teachers’ contract and the educational support personnel contracts are expiring on June 30.
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