St. Ignatius teachers, board still can't come to terms

Karen Peterson

Leader Staff

St. Ignatius teachers are going into the second year without a contract, and both sides are hopeful for an amicable resolution, but as always, the devil is in the details as the teachers union and school board continue to work to reach an agreement after a somewhat tumultuous 2004-2005 school year.

One of the problems stems from the school board wanting to protect itself from lawsuits, according to both sides. Consequently the district decided to change the language of the teachers' contracts, making it easier to dismiss an underperforming teacher with less threat of being sued.

"There is no harm in protecting ourselves," Superintendent Tim Skinner said.

District negotiators were Jim Udall, Dave Castor, and school board members. Skinner also negotiated for the board. Negotiators for the teachers included teacher and union representative Tim Marchant, Tim Biggs, and John Ligas.

In May 2003 the teachers proposed a one-year contract covering the 2003-2004 school year, with a salary increase of 3.9 percent, and increase in longevity pay and a $90-per-month insurance increase.

The school district offered in June 2003 a one-year contract with a 1.8 percent increase in pay, no increase in longevity pay, no insurance increase, and eliminating the rule that non-tenured teachers be notified of specific reasons why their contracts are not renewed and that laid-off teachers would be considered for vacancies. The contract also asked that employees take personal days only two at a time, and extend the work hour to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A contract could not be agreed upon so both parties brought in negotiators. Stacy Cummings of the Montana School Board Association represented the board and the teachers union brought in MEA-MFT field consultant Tom Gigstad.

"A mediator is an odd back-and-forth thing," said Marchant.

In February 2004 contracts still had not been signed, and the district brought in mediator Paul Melvin for assistance.

In the beginning of 2005 the district offered their "last, best and final offer," after coming to no agreement on negotiations. They offered a two-year contract with salary increase of 3.9 percent in the first year and 2.5 percent in the second year, no insurance increase, and renewed an earlier offer giving third-year teachers reasons for dismissal.

Some teachers felt that further negotiations would have resulted in an agreement, but the district implemented their last offer.

"There is a better way to do this than to change everything for all teachers to guard against the possibility of being sued by one teacher, which has never happened. They are changing the rules and it will negatively affect everyone," said Marchant. "They could protect themselves in better ways that would benefit the teachers and the board with teacher evaluation.

That gives them the opportunity to improve or dismiss a teacher safely and legally, he said.

"With their current offer the board is given the option of protecting themselves by rehiring every three years to avoid firing," Marchant said. "We also want to protect experienced teachers."

The teachers then filed charges against the board claiming the board came to impasse illegally, halting negotiations before they were over.

"There are better ways of doing things than to just implement it on us. It hurt a lot of teachers that we couldn't compromise," Marchant said. "For every one bad teacher you get several good ones. We don't want the collective bargaining changed for one bad teacher."

Board members said a communication failure at the February negotiating session caused the impasse and left them with few options.

After a trial in which teachers Tom Gigstad, Tim Marchant, Tim Biggs, John Ligas, Tim Skinner, Jim Udall, and Stacy Cummings testified the judge ruled earlier this year in favor of the teachers. He ordered the board to post notice of the negotiations violation and resume negotiations.

"This could go on for months if the school board appeals," Marchant said. "Morale has been damaged but it's not irreparable."

He said he has about 90 percent of the teachers backing him.

"There's nothing new with the negotiations. The teachers are here doing a fabulous job, very professional," Skinner said. "I'm sure we can work something out and resolve this."

"We are here to teach. It's what we like to do — it keeps us crazy and sane at the same time," Marchant said.

"The board earnestly wants to resolve this matter. We have been extremely patient, and we pay teachers what we can responsibly afford," Skinner said. "This is very emotional for both sides we just want what's best for the school."

Dates have not been set for further negotiations.