The Capital School District and its teachers’ union, the Capital Educators Association, negotiated for nearly a year and a half before coming to an agreement at the district’s Sept. 16 meeting.

Neither Board of Education members nor Superintendent Dr. Michael Thomas asked questions of CEA President Rod Fesel when he briefly spoke prior to the board’s vote on the contract. He said the groups “had many rich, and meaningful discussions” over the past 18 months, then reminded them that if the board did not ratify the contract they would move to arbitration. The board ratified the contract shortly afterward by unanimous vote.

The board ratified a contract in February, then de-ratified it the following month after hearing Gov. Jack Markell’s proposed budget. Thomas said in April it would have been irresponsible to keep the initially agreed-upon contract as the district had no idea what the state budget would look like come June 30.

One of the major concerns was the amount the school district would pay in employee benefits if the state came back with a slashed budget. Under the old CEA contract, the state paid 95% of state-offered employee benefits. Under the new agreement, employees will pay a slightly higher percentage for their insurance. The balance will go back to 95%/5% come 2010, Fesel said.

The increase in what staff pays for insurance will be offset, in part, by a retroactive raise. In general, the district pays 30% of teachers’ salaries, and the state pays 70%. The new agreement stipulates a 3.9% to 4.5% increase in the local portion of teachers’ pay for the 2008-2009 school year, and a 3% increase for the 2009-2010 school year. That helps teachers deal with the 2.5% pay cut, Fesel said.

The union’s contracts are set up to operate under the previous agreement until a new agreement is reached.

The groups will return to the bargaining table in early 2010. Moving forward, Fesel hopes the groups can take more time off between negotiation cycles.

“It’s more appealing to have a longer lasting contract,” he said. “That would be the goal for the new contract.”

Other changes include:

• • The district’s teachers will have access to $50,000 in local money per semester for tuition reimbursement.
• • High school teachers will have more prep time, and be able to teach more classes. “It gives students more availability of classes to take and it helps take the burden off teachers who are already teaching too many classes,” Fesel said.
• • Teachers may only leave during planning periods if it is on urgent business. “I don’t know of any state job that you can just leave for 45 minutes,” Fesel said.

In Other News...

• Dr. Tina Huff, assistant superintendent, gave the board a report on the start of school, district-wide. The district is working on the Safe Routes to School program, which improves sidewalks, signage, bike racks and more in an effort to make students’ trip to and from school as safe as possible. Huff also mentioned the excitement over the new South Dover Elementary, and the new Central Middle School gym.

“We have this new fieldhouse that everyone is going to enjoy,” she said. “You just get this excitement when you look at it.”

• Lynn Widdowson, supervisor of student support systems, updated the board on measures the district is taking in regards to the H1N1 flu.

Thomas said it was difficult to develop protocol because information regarding the flu seems to be changing so frequently, which Widdowson agreed was an issue. To stymie the potential spread of the flu, the district has purchased the appropriate cleaning solutions and upped its desk cleaning schedule, including reading tables and shared furniture for regular cleaning. It’s also gotten disinfectant wipes for all classes at Dover High School, William Henry Middle School and Central Middle School.

Teachers now have tip sheets on what to look for and Widdowson is monitoring absences to spot trends and stop further spreading of the flu if it hits. Capital has reminded students, teachers, parents and administrators of what to look for and what not to do via posters, letters sent home with students, and a letter on its website.

Widdowson said it was important to use trusted sources such as the Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control to get information, especially when it changes so rapidly, she said.

“This is going to be one of those things that we’re constantly monitoring because everyone has an opinion,” she said.

Email Sarika Jagtiani at sarika.jagtiani@doverpost.com