Helena Education Association and Helena Public Schools Consensus

Helena Education Association and Helena Public Schools Consensus Negotiations & Professional Compensation Alternative Plan (PCAP)

Introduction Helena’s Consensus Negotiations and Professional Compensation Alternative Plan (PCAP) Dr. Bruce Messinger - Superintendent, Helena Schools Tammy Pilcher - President, Helena Education Association Don Jones - Trustee, Helena School Board Larry Nielsen - Field Consultant, MEA-MFT

History n Bargaining History: Collective Gaining (late 70’s to 1993) Traditional Bargaining (1993 -96) Interest Based Bargaining (19962002) Consensus Negotiations (2002 Present) Ongoing Bargaining (2007 -Present)

District Climate / Leadership n n n n Low Trust and Confrontational Since 1993 Stability of District Leadership n Board of Trustees n Superintendent n Central Administration New HEA Leadership Opportunity for Change Commitment from HEA & Board of Trustees High Level Risk District Encouraged HEA to Consensus Negotiations All Trustees agreed to participate

Consensus Process n n n Interviews (Occur prior to first meeting) Grounding Greeting Circles Review of History / Decision Making Worst Fears Best Possible Outcomes Strategies to achieve Best Possible Outcomes Closing Collective Statements Small Group Work Committee Work

What Happens n Perspectives are shared n Relationships are built n Commonalities emerge

Creation of PCAP Tentative Agreement Highlights from 2003 n Alternative Compensation Schedule: n n n n Committee to develop Developed by January 2004 Negotiation Team Approval $30 K to $65 K Starts 04 -05 school year. New educators must be on new schedule. Current educators have option to select new schedule. Approval of new schedule with tentative agreement vote.

Process of Alternative Compensation n n Alternative Compensation Committee Completes Plan in Ten Months Compensation plan changed from an educational tiered system to a single ladder with stipends. Alternative Compensation Committee Plan is reviewed, revised and finalized. Short & Long term cost analysis conducted by District and outside source. (Augenblich, Palaich & Associates – Denver) Finalized plan is presented to educators and community.

Components of PCAP n n n Career Development Plan Professional Service Commitments Positive Evaluation

Career Development Plan Length of Plan – 1, 2 or 3 years n Various Areas Included: n Plan Description n Goals n Timeline n Methods/Strategies n Indicators of Progress n Sharing n Your Educational Plan n

Professional Service Credit n n Professional Service Requirements n Steps 0 -9 – 1 PSC / year n Steps 10 -19 – 2 PSC / year n Step 20/above – 3 PSC / year PSC cannot be used for Career Development Plan or PIR Must directly benefit students, school or district Agreed upon annually by educator and immediate supervisor

Positive Evaluation n Two Types of Evaluation Plans Accountability n Professional Growth n n Safe Guards n Appeal Contents of Evaluation

Consensus Negotiation Results and Effects Establishment of Transition Team (Labor/Management Committee) n Enrollment for current educators (60% the first year, 93% currently) n Training for Administrators n New Educators Orientation and Training in Writing a CDP n

B. E. S. T. Mentoring Program n Beginning Educator’s Support and Training n New educators assigned mentors n B. E. S. T. Kickoff n Quarterly Topic Meetings n Release days

Learning Academies Assessment n Technology Integration n Instructional Strategies / Differentiated Instruction n Reading Across the Curriculum n Mathematics At All Levels n Early Childhood n

Impact on District Attitude and Climate n Recruitment n Costs, Reallocation of resources (No new money) n New Professionalism n

Current Salaries Step 12 Step 11 Step 10 Step 9 Step 8 Step 7 Step 6 Step 5 Step 4 Step 3 Step 2 Step 1 Step 0 $54, 269 $52, 919 $51, 569 $48, 515 $47, 165 $45, 815 $44, 465 $43, 115 $40, 817 $39, 467 $38, 117 $36, 767 $35, 417 Step 24 Step 23 Step 22 Step 21 Step 20 Step 19 Step 18 Step 17 Step 16 Step 15 Step 14 Step 13 $73, 173 $71, 823 $70, 473 $69, 123 $67, 773 $65, 424 $64, 074 $62, 724 $61, 374 $60, 024 $56, 969 $55, 619

Advanced Professional Education and Training Stipends (APETS) n n n $2000 Masters Degree $2000 National Board of Professional Teaching Standards Certified $2000 Certification of Clinical Competency for Speech Pathology $1000 Primary Montessori Certification $1000 Nationally Certified School Psychologist Credential

Closing Thoughts n Risk of moving to unknown n Questions

Resources Collective Bargaining Agreement http: //www. helena. k 12. mt. us/staff/helenaed/docu ment/index. dhtm PCAP Booklet and Information http: //www. helena. k 12. mt. us/district/departme/person

Contact Information Dr. Bruce Messinger bmessinger@helena. k 12. mt. us Tammy Pilcher tpilcher@helena. k 12. mt. us Don Jones don@hohenlohejones. com Larry Nielsen lnielsen@mea-mft. org