The Monroe County School Board (MCSB) and the United Teachers of Monroe (UTM) are pleased to announce a tentative agreement regarding the negotiations reopener topics of compensation, benefits and evaluation for the 2017-2018 school year for Teachers and School Related Personnel (SRP).

After nine interest-based bargaining sessions, representatives for MCSB and UTM reached agreement on the issues of compensation, benefits and evaluation for teachers and school related personnel for the 2017-2018 school year.  For teachers compensation adjustments are the same as those received for 2016-2017 with a slight increase in health insurance premium contributions effective October 1st, and continuation of the previous memorandum of understanding with regard to teacher evaluation.  For SRP employees there will be a $.60/hour increment increase in the hourly rate for all SRP’s with additional improvements to the longevity pay scales, the same necessary increase in health insurance premiums and formal agreement as to progress to be made in the next year with regard to performance based evaluations for SRP’s.

Holly Hummell-Gorman, President of the UTM stated, “We are very pleased with the results of our collaborative process.   We were able to agree upon well-deserved salary increases as well as necessary adjustments in our health insurance premiums in both contracts for our hard working teachers and school related personnel.”   Superintendent Mark T. Porter, shared her perspective, noting, “This was by far the most efficient and productive process we have had to date. The continued improvement in our working relationship with UTM has resulted in a timely and fair settlement for all of our represented employees.  What a great announcement to make as our teachers and many of our SRP’s return to work this week.”   School Board Chairman John Dick, noted, “I am pleased that we have reached an agreement at this time.  As the 2017-2018 school year begins I am glad that our outstanding teachers and SRP’s are receiving the compensation increases they truly deserve.”

The tentative agreement will now be presented by the UTM to its membership for a ratification vote to take place in the next couple of weeks.  Upon ratification the agreement will come back before the MCSB for final approval at their Workshop/Meeting on September 7th.  Implementation of the agreed upon terms and conditions, retroactive to July 1, 2017, will follow immediately.