Board steadfast on salary proposal

It’s unlikely the Lawrence school board today will sweeten a salary offer to teachers when negotiations resume on a 2003-2004 contract.

The board’s negotiating team offered teachers a 3.5 percent increase in salary and benefits.

Al Gyles, a chief negotiator for Lawrence Education Assn., last week called that proposal an “insult.” A 4 percent increase is the minimum the teachers union should consider, he said.

Convincing the board to improve its offer will be difficult, because every dollar invested in this contract must be drawn from reductions in district staffing and programs.

On Monday night, the board formally dismissed more than two dozen classified employees — paraprofessionals, food service workers, secretaries and library personnel — to cut spending. About 60 certified educators already have been given pink slips. Millions of dollars in program cuts are contained in a priority list.

“I think we’ve worked hard to try to generate the offer we have on the table,” said Sue Morgan, a school board member and member of the board’s contract negotiation team.

She said the board’s team was serious last week when it declined to budge from 3.5 percent. That offer will cost the district $1.2 million, she said.

“It has to be considered a good-faith effort to do for our teachers,” Morgan said.

Supt. Randy Weseman said the board had to balance multiple interests — certified teachers, classified staff and students interested in quality programs and activities.

“If we go deeper into the district’s pocket, we do less of something else,” he said.

The negotiation session is 3:30 p.m. today at district headquarters, 110 McDonald Drive.

Last year, Lawrence teachers accepted a 5 percent increase in salary and benefits.

In other business, the board:

  • voted 6-0 to move 2004 graduation ceremonies for Free State and Lawrence high schools to May 16 at Memorial Stadium. The original date was May 30, but there was concern a 10-day lag between the final day of classes for seniors and commencement would decrease participation in the event. A long delay also would make it harder to hire teachers to work at the graduations.
  • voted 6-0 to defer consideration of a new policy on student hazing. There was concern among board members about stating “serious” mental or emotional harm and “extreme” embarrassment or ridicule in the policy. The terms will be reviewed by a district policy committee and the junior high and high school principals. Hazing surfaced in 2002 after more than a dozen LHS students were suspended for running sophomores through a paddle line.