School District, Parents, Teachers React to Contract Imposition

The day after a was imposed by the West Bloomfield School Board of Education on its teachers union was marked with concern, frustration, and reflection on the parts of teachers, parents, administrators and students alike.

“I’m very concerned with what’s going to happen. I believe in our community and I think we can heal, but it’s going to take a lot of work and rebuilding of trust and that’s what I want to do with this group,” said Julie Beaty, a parent in the district and a member of the independent parents group  “Our immediate response is how it’s going to effect my kids teachers. I have friends who are teachers, so it goes back to the community. These are our neighbors and friends … and I understand why they’re upset.”

The board voted 5-2 Thursday night to impose a collective bargaining agreement as about 450 teachers and supporters protested outside , expressing anger at the latest development in a monthslong, rancorous process.

The two-year contract proposal that was imposed includes a 10 percent pay cut retroactive to Dec. 1, 2010, which does not require teachers to pay back the district for money received between the expiration of the last contract on Aug. 31 and Dec. 1. The proposal also includes a salary step freeze. Superintendent JoAnn Andrees said Thursday that imposition does not signify the end of contract negotiations, as both parties are expected to resume talks after next week's spring break.

The union is weighing its options to fight the pay cut, according to Cyndi Austin, Uniserve director for the Michigan Education Association, which are said to cost teachers between 10 percent and 40 percent – depending on difference in steps – on paychecks delivered Friday.

At least one teacher reported to have received a check Wednesday with a pay cut already imposed prior to Thursday night's vote. West Bloomfield High School Spanish teacher Heather Crewes said just before the meeting that the pay cut was calculated to have been at least $450 from her normal check, equating to a 10 percent pay cut retroactive to December.

Andrees responded to the incident in a statement Friday, blaming the premature cut to “the volume of checks to be adjusted and the time required” to do so. She also confirmed an allegation made by others in public comments Thursday that the board had knowledge prior to the meeting that they would consider the resolution to impose.

West Bloomfield High School video teacher Kevin Walsh called Friday at school “mentally exhausting.”  Walsh said a student asked him whether it was true he had gotten a pay cut, to which Walsh replied, “Yeah, but that’s not why we’re in school today.”

“I can’t imagine the timing being much worse," Walsh said. "We don’t have a February break any more, so spring break next week is our first break since the holidays. A lot of people had travel plans and counting on relaxing and it’s difficult to do this.”

Beaty said explaining the situation to her children was also difficult as she took her family on vacation and struggled to relax, reiterating that the teachers’ struggles hit close to home. “I talked to my kids about it today and I tried to put it in a bigger picture: Adults don’t always agree. We have a group of professionals with different opinions."

Assistant Superintendent Rick Arnett commented Friday on what had taken place at the bargaining table to get to the point of imposition Thursday. “The union has said they gave us a 5 percent pay cut proposal for year one and a 4 percent cut for year two. A lot of people calculate that at a 9 percent cut total, but it’s not. At the end of the year one, they go back to where they were at the start of the year. In year two, they take a 4 percent reduction. We can’t be fiscally responsible if we accept one-time savings,” he said.

Treasurer Nelson Hersh said at the meeting that the district has met with the union about 27 times. A fact finder appointed by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission in December recommended a 10 percent immediate cut in pay.

Austin said Friday that there were no immediate mediation sessions scheduled, but negotiations will continue until a mutual agreement has been reached.

“What we have brought forward was, ‘You’re in deficit, we’re willing to help out. We’re going to take cuts and concessions and this will help get you out of debt and hope the district will balance their budget,’” Austin said of last year’s $1.7 million deficit, which, according to Arnett, would have ballooned to $2.9 million without the cut. “It’s a people business. The staff is reflective of that. The biggest complaint that the WBEA has had is that (the district) has not been wise in their finances.”