Teacher pay bumps smaller than hoped, but contract OK'd

After 18 months of negotiations, the South Milwaukee teachers union and district officials have reached a contract agreement for the academic year already passed and the one now in session.

The agreement, approved by the School Board on March 4 and the South Milwaukee Education Association voted on March 10, provides for a total increase of 4 percent for benefits and salaries for the 2007-08 year and of 4.11 percent for 2008-09, said Jennifer Sielaff, director of personnel, administrative and legal services.

The salary portion of that package increased 2.78 percent for the 2007-08 school year and 2.88 percent in the 2008-09 school year for each cell in the teacher pay scale.

The contract covers about 260 teachers and staff members in the district.

"Given the legal constraints we're operating under … I applaud our negotiators," said board member David Maass. "It's a very nice outcome."

SMEA President Eric Van Ert also is pleased that a settlement was reached, but he is not pleased with the final terms of the contract.

"It was a long time coming," Van Ert said. "We're settling for under 3 percent (salary increases), and I'm not happy with that."

Van Ert said that of the 426 districts in the state, the average salary increase was 3.4 percent. In addition, he said that the average for Council 10 school districts - many of the neighboring schools in the area - also was 3.4 percent.

Sielaff countered that South Milwaukee School District teachers' salaries are above average compared to the rest of Council 10. She said she believes the salaries are competitive.

Julie Ann Marra can be reached at (262) 446-6634.

AT A GLANCE

Other changes established by the new contract:

• The layoff notification deadline was moved from March 1 to April 1, which will give administrators more time to gather information and craft a preliminary budget.

• Occupational and physical therapists were added to the union.

• Minimum retirement age was set at 55.