MPCSD begins teacher contract negotiations

MT. PLEASANT — Wednesday afternoon, the Mt. Pleasant Community School District and the Mt. Pleasant Education Association (MPEA) met to exchange initial proposals for the 2023-204 Master Contract.

As the meeting room in the district office began to overflow with Mt. Pleasant teachers, Middle School Visual Arts Teacher Michele Peterson opened the brief meeting with a prepared statement which gave insight into a teacher’s perspective.

“Teachers are often willing to work for less because being in this profession, we know it's what's best for the students,” Peterson said.

Peterson asserted, “In the past, it was common for teachers to be hired at Mount Pleasant Community School District and remain for their entire career.”

While she agreed that turnover has always occurred, she felt that, at one time, this rate occurred at a lower rate than other districts.

“People who could get their foot in our doors simply stayed,” she said.

Peterson recalled the open positions in the district used to receive many applicants because, “It was well known that Mt. Pleasant Community Schools had a very competitive salary schedule and benefit package with nice retirement bonuses.”

“Mt. Pleasant Community School District was simply the best place to work, and many of us are loyal to a fault,” she said.

“Unfortunately, over the years, things have begun to level out and changes have occurred,” Peterson continued.

While she acknowledged that the school district could not control man of these changes as fewer young people pursue teaching as a career, teachers could not continue in the current conditions.

“People have changed,” she said. “Many are no longer willing to work in the current conditions that plague our schools of today. Being in the trenches, as they say, is a much tougher road with the types of challenges we face daily.”

According to Peterson, current conditions demand more from teachers both physically and mentally.

“The fact is there are fewer and fewer people willing to do this job,” Peterson said. “This is obvious by an amazingly low number of applicants we often see for our ever-growing open position. Dozens of qualified applicants per open position has turned into only a few. Remaining here at Mt. Pleasant Community School District for the long haul is an exception rather than the rule.”

Turning toward businesses facing similar problems, “They have had to get creative about their packages that they offer potential employees, from flexible work hours and more time off, to hiring, and retention bonuses,” she added.

“Many schools are currently trying some of these same practices, however, we are falling behind in many of these areas and are starting to lose very qualified teachers to other more creative districts,” Peterson said. “Teachers Network we talk to those in other districts. We know what some other schools are offering. We know some of the people we have lost to other schools. But for us teachers, it is very frustrating.”

“The teachers here still want what's best for our kids. We know the number one indicator for a quality school is a quality staff,” she said. “We are afraid that our continued lack of competitiveness in our salary offerings is rapidly contributing to increased attrition, a decrease in our applicant pool, and an increased feeling of being underappreciated.”

Peterson further expressed concerns that while the district increased dollars spent on many necessary expenses, “…the amount of dollars spent to actually increase our pay to help us with the ever increasing cost of living is nowhere near even the state average, let alone keeping us competitive with many schools in our area and across the state.”

“We are here today hoping to take the first steps toward not only making our district more attractive to potential new hires, but to also show our current staff, through more than words, that we are truly valued and appreciated,” Peterson concluded.

Go ahead and present hearing. HOPOS proposes a base wage increase of $1,500, not including TSS. NPEA proposes longevity pay. All employees that maximize the step and lane pay scale for more than two consecutive years at either BA 30, Ma 15 or Ma 30 will receive an additional payment of $1,000 annually for a maximum of 10 years.

Mt. Pleasant English Language Learners teacher Amanda Clark presented the following proposed changes on behalf of MPEA for the 2023-2024 Master Contract:

[ITALICS] MPEA proposes a base wage increase of $1,500 (not including TSS).

MPEA proposes longevity pay: All employees who have maximized the step and lane pay scall for more than two consecutive years at either BA30, MA, MA15, or MA30 will receive an additional payment of $1,000 annually for a maximum of 10 years.

MPEA proposes step and lane advancement.

Following their proposal, Superintendent John Henriksen responded, “We are, as a team and as representatives of the board are willing to negotiate so that we can be and continue to be competitive in wages and salary schedule.”

According to Henriksen, declining enrollment plays a large factor in the district’s finances.

“Enrollment has decreased significantly over the last … 17 to 20 years with significant enrollment decrease over that 20 year period,” he said.

“We're on the budget guarantee for fiscal year 24,” Henriksen further explained. “Budget guarantee guarantees a 1% new money increase. And the reason that that's in place and the reason that it's in place for us is when your enrollment and the dollar increase of supplemental aid when that doesn't reach 1% of your previous year's regular program dollars.”

“Then you are guaranteed 1% whatever that difference is between the previous year's regular program dollars and 1% whatever that difference is, is made up in local property taxes, which is something that we will look at and talked with our Finance committee about that last night,” he added.

Henriksen also commented that the district has seen an increase in applications this year over previous ones, “So, we’re happy with our pool.”

The Mt. Pleasant Community School District presented the following initial proposal to the MPEA:

[ITALICS] The District proposes a $850 increase to the base wage.

The District proposes that the wage schedule is “aged” one year with corresponding step and lane advancement as applicable.

The District is open to discussing multiyear agreement with a wage opener each year.

With all the cards laid out on the table, the two groups agreed to meet again in closed-session April 11 at 4:15 p.m.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com