Mead School Employees Ok Contract

After five months of interest-based bargaining, Mead School District employees recently signed a three-year contract.

“We had not traditionally bargained before,” said Mead Education Association President Bobbi Blessent. “But it was a great experience because it allowed you to come in not just with `Here’s our package’ but with the concerns and interests of our members.”

Only three MEA members voted against the new contract, Blessent said. The 99-percent approval rate is probably one of the highest they’ve ever had, she added.

The highlights of the new contract include:

An extra $250 for each teacher this year for professional expenses, which could be anything from supplies to periodicals to training.

“The professional fund was very important, because it spoke to the whole spectrum of teachers,” Blessent said. “We looked for flexibility to honor the teachers’ time.”

Added Personnel Director Dolores Humiston: “We recognized that teachers at different levels in their careers need different things.”

That amount will increase to $500 by the third year.

An additional paid day for personal use.

An additional six paid hours each year for authorized activities designed to improve learning.

A class size of 24 students for kindergarten through second grade, thanks to money from the state for class-size reduction. Though kindergarten stays at 24 students per class, first grade is down from 27 and second grade is down from 28 students.

Of the bargaining, Humiston said it “encouraged the relationship with teachers. We didn’t agree to anything that wasn’t mutually beneficial.”

“It left everyone feeling good,” Blessent said. “We’re very proud.”