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The Oconomowoc Education Association’s (OEA) negotiations team has rejected the school board's contract proposal, and the board is proceeding with implementing a Qualified Economic Offer on its teachers.
"Not only is the (school board's) offer unacceptable, it is offensive to a qualified staff that remains committed to all Oconomowoc students," OEA Chief Negotiator Brad Ducklow said in a statement. "We have met with teachers in all of the district buildings during the past week and they have joined us in near unanimous condemnation of the board’s final offer.”
Ducklow said the district is using misleading numbers to make it appear that its salary offer is higher than it is. The bottom line, he said, is that the district is offering its teachers a per-cell salary increase of less than 1% in 2005-06 and less than 2% in 2006-07. By comparison, he said, statewide teacher salaries increased 2.6% in 2005-06.
In addition, Ducklow said, Oconomowoc teachers made concessions in the prior two-year agreement. The teachers, he said, agreed to forego pay increases for a majority of employees "and doubled their share of health insurance premiums to help the board address its financial woes – woes which were largely of the board’s own making."
The board's response, he said, is to now offer pay increases that would result in a loss of 6% in real income at current rates of inflation.
“We continue to work hard to deliver an educational experience that produces high student achievement. Our K-12 students perform well above national and state norms on achievement tests," Ducklow said.
“Excellent teachers are at the center of any district’s education achievement and when you fail to invest in your most important asset it will have consequences for the quality of services delivered and staff morale."
Ducklow noted that Police Chief Don Weimer, who is a school board member, supported raises of 3% or more for his city employees but is backing much smaller increases for the community's teachers.
Weimer also made the statement to Lakewood UniServ Council Director Steven Cupery that he (Weimer) liked the QEO because it took pressure off the property tax, allowing him to give his police officers good raises.
"We would never advocate this draconian labor law for police officers nor would we wish our unfair revenue controls be applied to them,” said Cupery. “His attitude is sad but not surprising. There are some people in life who feel that the only way for them to succeed is to oppress others.”
Cupery said Oconomowoc teachers have resigned en masse from voluntary school district committees and are refusing to perform voluntary work outside the work day.
Oconomowoc teachers and families rally for fair contract (November 2006)
Posted January 12, 2007