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School district employees to get smaller raises
Douglas County School District employees all took cuts in pay raises this year, said Pat McGraw, president of the Douglas County Federation of Teachers.
By By: Susan Dage-Ruby
Douglas County School District employees took cuts in pay raises this year, said Pat McGraw, president of the Douglas County Federation of Teachers.
School district teachers, bus drivers, classified staff and administrative employees approved the district's offer for the pay and the Douglas County Board of Education unanimously approved it July 17.
The average raise this year will be 2.8 percent, compared with 5-7.3 percent last year.
"This was a tough year, budget-wise," said John Sheehan, president of the district board of education. "Everybody did a good job [negotiating] in a difficult year."
McGraw agreed.
"I think settlements all over the Denver metro area were tight because of the state legislators' need to cut $80 million from the state budget."
The district and its employees agreed to the following:
q The Douglas County Federation of Teachers approved a .5 percent increase in market adjustments, said Steven Herzog director of human resources for the district. Teachers who receive a "satisfactory" evaluation will receive a 2.3 percent increase. Certified teachers with 15 or more years' experience and a master's degree will receive a $750 stipend.
q Bus drivers and mechanics will receive a 1 percent market increase and those transportation employees with a score of "meets expectations" in their evaluation will receive an additional 1.3 percent. Those with a rating of "exceeds expectations" will receive an additional 1.8 percent increase.
q Classified employees received a 1.5 percent increase to meet with market comparability, Herzog said. They also will receive merit increased for satisfactory evaluations with .8 percent for those who earn a "meets expectations" rating and 1.3 percent for those who receive an "exceeds expectations" rating, Herzog said.
q Administrative, professional and technical employees also will receive a 2.8 percent increase for a "satisfactory" rating on their evaluations, Herzog said.
In all cases, employees who earn an unsatisfactory or "does not meet" expectations rating will not receive any merit increases, he said.
"The district was looking at being fair," McGraw said. "It's a tough time for everybody."
The raises are effective retroactively to July 1, Herzog said.
In other school board news, Jim McCormick, district E representative tendered his letter of resignation.
McCormick, who has been substitute teaching in neighboring districts, wants to teach closer to home.
"The long daily commutes as well as many missed opportunities because I was unable to respond in time have forced me to rethink my position," McCormick wrote in his letter. "I have decided to make myself available to teach within our own district schools starting this August."
Douglas County Board of Education policy precludes a member of the school board, from, among other things, "performing any labor" in the district so as to "maintain public confidence and prevent the use of public office for private gain."
The school board will appointment someone to fill McCormick's seat until the November election. Those interested in being appointed to fill the seat can call Vicki Simonson, the board of education secretary at (303) 814-5213.
School district teachers, bus drivers, classified staff and administrative employees approved the district's offer for the pay and the Douglas County Board of Education unanimously approved it July 17.
The average raise this year will be 2.8 percent, compared with 5-7.3 percent last year.
"This was a tough year, budget-wise," said John Sheehan, president of the district board of education. "Everybody did a good job [negotiating] in a difficult year."
McGraw agreed.
"I think settlements all over the Denver metro area were tight because of the state legislators' need to cut $80 million from the state budget."
The district and its employees agreed to the following:
q The Douglas County Federation of Teachers approved a .5 percent increase in market adjustments, said Steven Herzog director of human resources for the district. Teachers who receive a "satisfactory" evaluation will receive a 2.3 percent increase. Certified teachers with 15 or more years' experience and a master's degree will receive a $750 stipend.
q Bus drivers and mechanics will receive a 1 percent market increase and those transportation employees with a score of "meets expectations" in their evaluation will receive an additional 1.3 percent. Those with a rating of "exceeds expectations" will receive an additional 1.8 percent increase.
q Classified employees received a 1.5 percent increase to meet with market comparability, Herzog said. They also will receive merit increased for satisfactory evaluations with .8 percent for those who earn a "meets expectations" rating and 1.3 percent for those who receive an "exceeds expectations" rating, Herzog said.
q Administrative, professional and technical employees also will receive a 2.8 percent increase for a "satisfactory" rating on their evaluations, Herzog said.
In all cases, employees who earn an unsatisfactory or "does not meet" expectations rating will not receive any merit increases, he said.
"The district was looking at being fair," McGraw said. "It's a tough time for everybody."
The raises are effective retroactively to July 1, Herzog said.
In other school board news, Jim McCormick, district E representative tendered his letter of resignation.
McCormick, who has been substitute teaching in neighboring districts, wants to teach closer to home.
"The long daily commutes as well as many missed opportunities because I was unable to respond in time have forced me to rethink my position," McCormick wrote in his letter. "I have decided to make myself available to teach within our own district schools starting this August."
Douglas County Board of Education policy precludes a member of the school board, from, among other things, "performing any labor" in the district so as to "maintain public confidence and prevent the use of public office for private gain."
The school board will appointment someone to fill McCormick's seat until the November election. Those interested in being appointed to fill the seat can call Vicki Simonson, the board of education secretary at (303) 814-5213.
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