REA Bargaining Session Update: October 26, 2017

The eleventh bargaining session between Reynolds Education Association (REA) and Reynolds School District (RSD) was held on October 26, 2017 in the library at Woodland Elementary School from 4:00 p.m. until 5:45 p.m. Proposals were exchanged as follows:

REA offered one counter proposal as follows:

Article 18 – Student Discipline

REA proposed the following:

An addition to the introductory language in A. to indicate that the District and School Board will endeavor to implement the provisions of Board Policy JG (Student Discipline) with fidelity.
A new heading titled “C. Referral Procedures for Students Engaging in Physical Abuse or Intimidation” followed by added language requiring:
- the completion of a written plan on the RSD Individual Student Safety Input form which will be filed at both the building and district level and reviewed by the Student Services Committee to monitor the need and use of resources. The data will also be entered into Synergy or another database that “need to know” unit members can access.
- When disruptions by the student include non-permissive contact, physical aggression, or physical contact (assault) upon a unit member, then the student shall be removed from the responsibility of the unit member pending an investigation by the administration. If the contact or aggression did occur and the unit member recommends it, then the student, unless he or she has accommodations in an individualized education plan for behavior, shall not be returned to the responsibility of the unit member.
- The District shall record all incidents of physical contact (assault), verbal abuse, and intimidation against unit members and students. Incident records shall be filed and kept at all school buildings and sites that host programs and at the District office. Records shall be updated and monitored monthly and the Association shall have the right to review the updated records with the Director of HR or other designee of the Superintendent at the bi-monthly contract maintenance meetings and provide input on how to best allocate resources to serve the needs of all students.
- Restorative Practices – Language to request that an MOU be crafted by March 1, 2018 related to the District’s incorporation of restorative practices into the school climate and district culture.

Two other REA proposals for Article 5 – Employee Rights and Article 9 – Teaching Hours were tentatively agreed to – see Tentative Agreements below.

The District offered one package proposal including Articles 7 – Employee Work Year, Article 22 – Employee Compensation, and Article 23 – Fringe Benefits as follows:

Article 7 – Employee Work Year

Continue to propose a Change to B. Distribution of Contract language as follows:

1. Pupil Instruction Days increases from 172 to 174

2. The addition of 1 conference prep day (K-12)

3. 4 staff development days remain the same and specifies that should the District schedules a second set of conferences, then one of these days shall be designated as a conference preparation day.

4. 1 midyear planning day remains the same

5. 1 fall pre-instructional work day remains the same

6. 1 summer post-instructional day remains the same

7. 4 pupil evaluation and/or course development days remains the same.

Early Release/Late Arrival – The District counter proposed that unit members shall have 1 late start per quarter to be teacher-led in accordance with the developed building plan for the year and for the purposes described in the current late start language which include staff development and/or training, collaboration, planning, or collaborative preparation of curriculum/lessons specifically tied to the staff development.

(To date, the District has not been agreeable late start time being member directed as the School Board approved these days with the caveat that they would be directed by the District).

Both groups continue to agree this should be collaborative time used effectively.

Article 22 – Employee Compensation

The District proposes that the 2017-18 salary schedule remain the same as the 2016-17 salary schedule and recognizes that this results in a cut due to the five furlough days MOU.
The 2017-18 salary schedule shall increase by one half percent (.5%) for 2018-19.
The 2018-19 salary schedule shall increase by one percent (1.0%) for 2019-20.
The District proposes that in order for courses to count toward salary advancement on the schedule, the course must have application to the unit member’s assignments, licensure, or support the unit member’s professional growth goal(s) or the district’s or school’s goal(s). Courses used for salary advancement must be pre-approved for salary advancement. Courses must also be taken for a grade rather than pass/no pass and practicums may also now be approved toward column movement.
Extra duty positions would be offered on a year-to-year basis, including head coach and lead advisor positions of OSAA sanctioned athletics and activities.
Unit members occupying extra duty positions may be evaluated as deemed necessary by the District rather than annually as is now required.

Article 23 – Fringe Benefits

The District’s proposal maintains the $1300 per month district CAP for the duration of the contract with an increased contribution to the insurance pool per year as follows:
- $250,000 effective October 1, 2017
- $300,000 effective October 1, 2018
- %250,000 effective October 1, 2019
The District proposes that unused portions of unit members’ insurance allocations allowed to be spent on supplemental insurance products decrease during the term of the contract as follows:
- One half for 2017-18 (current contract language)
- One quarter for 2018-19
- Effective for 2019-20 unit members may no longer spend any of the unused portion of their insurance allocation on supplemental insurance products.
The District proposes that in exchange for the elimination of this benefit, unit members’ Term Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance will be increased from the current policy amount of $20,000 to $50,000 for 2018-19 and 2019-20 AND
Effective October 1, 2018, the District shall provide, at no cost to the member, short-term disability insurance and long term disability insurance.
The Insurance Committee will continue to meet at least quarterly for the duration of this agreement.

Two Tentative Agreements were reached at this session as follows:

Article 5 – Employee Rights

Changes to current contract language include:

Administrators shall make unit members aware of performance issues that arise prior to rating any member as “needs improvement (2)” or “unsatisfactory (1)” in that performance area on the summative evaluation.
Any modifications to a Program of Assistance by the evaluator shall not be implemented without first communicating with the unit member and the REA representative.
Working files may be kept by building administrators and unit members and/or their REA representatives may review the contents of said files and receive copies of any documents contained within.
Any complaint shall include the following information: name of the unit member against whom the complaint is made, the date and nature of the complaint, and the name of the complainant.
Unit members shall have the right to attach a written response to any document that is placed in the personnel file as a result of a complaint.
Workplace and Environmental Safety language has been updated to include a provision requiring updates to be provided during the course of the investigation as available and when/if the District is the entity creating the written report, it shall include the following: findings and results; action needed to mitigate the condition; and a timeframe for expected completion of any work deemed necessary to remedy the condition. Copies of any OSHA reports shall be provided to unit members who work at the affected site.

Article 9 – Teaching Hours

Changes to current contract language include: