WACO's master contract calls for 7-percent increase over two years

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

WAYLAND ? Master-contract negotiations with the faculty may be completed at the WACO Community School District.

School directors, during their 5:30 p.m. meeting today at Crawfordsville, are expected to approve a two-year pact on wages and insurance matters with the WACO Education Association and a one-year agreement on language items.

The agreement includes a 4-percent total package increase for 2015-16 and a 3-percent increase for the 2016-17 school year.

No decision has been made on how the increase will be allocated. That will be done by district and association officials at a later date. The base teaching salary at WACO for the current school term is $27,160.

Language changes in the contract include the following:

Paternity leave ? Male employees shall be permitted one paid day of leave for the birth of their child. This day will be deducted from sick leave.

School calendar ? The school calendar shall include 166.5 days including 144 teaching days, two in-service full days, 2.5 work days, six professional development half days (one each quarter), 14 +1 days, two parent-teacher conference days and four paid holidays (Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year?s).

Employees will not be required to meet at two different buildings on half-day professional development days.

Insurance ? The board shall provide $531.89 toward medical insurance coverage for each employee who elects to purchase health-major medical insurance and pro-rata for part-time employees eligible for coverage under the plan. The board will also cover the employee-only fees associated with the Healthcare Reform Act, beginning in January 2014.

Lunch periods ? All employees shall be provided a daily uninterrupted duty-free lunch period of at lest 20 minutes. Parent-teacher conferences will not be scheduled during this time.

Data teams will not be required to meet during preparation time.

Employees will not be required to stay after contract time.