Teachers, district trade new proposals

The Eugene Education Association threw a new wrinkle into its almost-two-months-long talks with the Eugene School District over concessions for the 2011-12 school year at a bargaining session Wednesday at the district’s Education Center.

The teachers’ union opened the session with a new proposal, a two-year deal that would freeze cost-of-living salary increases for 2011-12 but include a one-half “step” increase (1.85 percent) based on experience on July 1, then provide a cost-of-living salary increase on July 1, 2012, of either 1 percent or by half the yearly average of the Portland consumer price index, whichever is greater. Under the proposal, teachers would see another half-step increase on July 1, 2012.

After a 31/2-hour caucus, the district countered with an offer of a 0.25 percent cost-of-living salary cut in 2011-12, but then a 0.5 percent cost-of-living increase for the 2012-13 school year. The district also offered half-step increases on July 1 of this year, and again on July 1, 2012, and then again on June 30, 2013.

But the district’s associate human resources director and lead negotiator, Christine Nesbit, cautioned that the district’s latest offer was not an official proposal because the district did not have the school board’s authority to bargain two years worth of concessions.

Until Wednesday, the district had proposed freezing teachers’ step advancements for 2011-12.

As for health insurance, the district provides $1,100 a month for its employees. The union had been asking for an increase to $1,150 in recent proposals, but changed that on Wednesday to $1,130 a month in 2011-12 and $1,160 a month in 2012-13 as part of its new two-year proposal.

Both sides were still talking at 11 p.m. Wednesday.

The district, which is facing a record estimated budget shortfall of $21.7 million for 2011-12, says it needs at least $4.5 million in concessions or further payroll reductions to balance next year’s budget. In other proposed cuts, more than 120 teachers have received tentative layoff notices and four elementary schools will close for good when school lets out for summer next week.