MANSFIELD, Ohio — The negotiation team from the Mansfield Schools Employee Association met with the superintendent Wednesday, Jan. 6, to hash out contracts that have been in a stalemate since June 30, 2015.
Mansfield Schools Employee Association spokesperson Amanda Clawson said she is tired of the waiting.
“It’s just a matter of getting it done. The process is just … slow,” said Clawson Thursday.
She said the two entities settled on a few items during the Jan. 6 meeting, but the major items are still on the table. MSEA, which represents all teachers and support staff in the Mansfield City School District, is requesting a “small percentage” raise — they haven’t had one for eight years, Clawson said.
“And there’s been one (raise) in the last 15 years. We used to be in the area’s top 10 best paying teacher jobs. Now we’re in the bottom 10 in North Central Ohio,” said Clawson.
According to Ohio Education Association 2013-14 school year salary data, teachers with a bachelor’s degree earned $30,937 at Mansfield City Schools, which is approximately $1,100 less than the state average.
The maximum a teacher can earn at Mansfield City Schools if the individual obtains a masters degree is $59,700 prior to longevity steps, according to OEA data.
Another hot item is school day structure in the high school. The current school day involves a seven-period day at the high school. The MSEA, according to Clawson, is requesting an eight-period day, although Clawson declined to comment on the specifics.
“They (administration) don’t want any of the details out to the teachers. We just want to know what they’re thinking,” Clawson said.
Superintendent Brian Garverick, who has attended the negotiation meetings since April and represents the board in negotiations, declined to comment on specifics regarding high school day structure. He also said he could not speak to details regarding calamity days, another issue within the existing contract the MSEA is hoping to restructure.
“We’re moving along. It’s not as fast as I’d like it to be, and we all understand that,” Garverick said. “Thank goodness we just hired a new treasurer though,” he added.
Robert Kuehnle was hired Tuesday, Jan. 5 after a seven-month long search.
“I’m hoping they can get him caught up pretty quick and not use it as a stalling tactic,” Clawson said.
Although school district treasurers are not required by law to attend union negotiations, interim treasurer Trevor Gummere has sat in on MSEA meetings, district spokesman Larry Gibbs said.
Kuehnle plans on participating with the meetings fully, Gibbs added.
On Tuesday, Dec. 15, nearly 100 MSEA members showed up to the board of education’s regular meeting. Though no one from the association addressed the board during the meeting, the members wore black t-shirts that read “MSEA Wants … Fair Treatment for All.”
“We’re in crisis mode — we’re not agreeing with the contract,” said Sherman Physical Education teacher Maggie Voedisch before entering the board of education meeting on Dec. 15. “We care about the contract, we want fair treatment for all.”
