KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — As the new school year approaches, Kalamazoo Public School teachers have announced they do not like the deal they are being offered by the School District.
Teachers packed last night’s school board meeting protest a freeze on their step pay schedule. KEA President Amanda Miller says step pay is promised in their contracts.
Trustee Ken Greschak says blame the state for inadequate funding, don’t blame them.
He says the challenge is “how education is funded in this state, or not funded, and how public education is taking it on the nose, and particularly teachers are taking it on the nose.” He says he is sympathetic and hoping they can turn that type of energy ito create change at the state level.
Superintendent Michael Rice says a study commissioned by the state to gauge adequate funding levels for schools released earlier this year suggested that schools in Michigan were woefully underfunded, especially those schools in high poverty areas.
He says the report was buried. He says a coalition of educators is now working on a new report that is more comprehensive, and they plan to continue to press the point that you get what you pay for.
KEA President Miller says the district could tap into the rainy day fund to cover the cost of the step increases but a statement released by the board challenged the wisdom of using what is essentially their savings account to subsidize an ongoing and reoccuring cost.
The Board Statement also says that all unions were offered a flat 1.3% increase that the various unions could supplement by taking cuts or finding savings in benefits plans. All the other unions have settled. Only negotiations with representatives of the 800 member teacher’s union continue.
