- It is understood by the Classified Advisory Committee that the cost of health insurance for all classified staff is a significant fiscal obligation. The Committee requests that the Board give serious consideration to providing District paid health insurance to employees working 20 or more hours per week.
March 10, 2008
Classified Advisory Committee
Meeting called to order by Co-Chairman Josh Tieman at 6:15 PM
Members present: Anita Lewis, Cedric Chowdhury, Jeremiah Hamilton, Jean Lerno, Joy Meier, Fathe Stone, Gary Lerno, Karen Daniel, Sharon Miller, Melissa McCreary, Debbie Doney, Bridgett Washam, Julie Hupp, Lana Williams, Sharon Gossey, Josh Tieman, and Carla Rose
Members absent: Cathy Casey, Bonnie Lockyer, Renee Hunter
Ms. Davis: Gave information about disability insurance for the whole district. CEA is looking at the possibility of replacing sick pool with either long-term or short-term disability insurance. They are pricing out both and should have figures by next Monday.
Josh: Presented three different plans for pay raises. 1) The original “bump” up raise plus the 2.5 % 2) 4% with a small “bump” up raise 3) flat 6%
Ms. Davis commented that just the original “bump” suggested raise would be approximately $216,000.00 without any percentage raise.
Josh: Wanted to discuss food service workers, and a possible base pay “bump” since they were passed over in the previous meeting, due to lack of solid data.
Karen Daniel asked permission to ask Ms. Davis a question. She wanted to know what the board would do if we proposed a certain rate and the board wanted to give another rate, possibly higher, are we making a mistake?
Ms. Davis response: Mrs. Davis does not expect Dr. Ewing to change his philosophy regarding classified staff. In the past, Dr. Ewing and the Board have always given larger percentage raises to classified staff than the agreed percentage for certificated staff each year. She indicated that the cost of the “bumps” for specific job classifications would be counted into the total costs in determining percentages. Mrs. Davis indicated that in meeting with the CEA Salary committee, it was determined that Fort Osage would receive an additional $600,000 from the state next year, but that there would be a $1.8 million deficit if all the “necessities” were figured in. In two years, there will be no additional funding coming from the state.
Josh: vote on the proposals, he recommended the 4% with a small “bump.” Ten people voted for this proposal. His goal was to get every base salary at least up to $10.00 per hour.
Karen Daniel: commented that this is just a proposal, not voted on by the Board yet. She noted that OT/ PT/ interpreters are not on the proposal spreadsheet.
Ms. Davis: Made comment on the health insurance. She said in visiting with the insurance representatives, they do not recommend offering insurance as an option for employees to buy on their own. This allows the pool to be self selecting, which drives the rates up. What this means is that usually only those who can not qualify for insurance on their own will purchase this insurance. If districts can afford to provide insurance for their classified staff, it is better for everyone to be in the pool and not only those who self select.
PROPOSAL:
The goal of this committee is to evaluate and make recommendations representative of the classified employees as compared to area districts.
- Salary: To bring designated departments to comparable salaries in the area. We propose to maintain the 2.5% step increase for all classified staff.
Additionally:
- “Bump” in hourly wage for specific job titles
- An increase of 1.5% above the 2.5% step increase
(SEE ATTACHED PROPOSAL SPREADSHEET ON RAISES)
Next Week’s Agenda: days off, pro rated salaries from 9 months to 12 months, Holidays, paid sick days
Q: What is the purpose of this committee?
A: The purpose of this committee is to make recommendations relating to salary, benefits, and calendar for all classified staff. The outcome of this committee will be to provide these recommendations, listed in priority order, to the superintendent and his representatives to apply to the following school year.
Q: Who is eligible to serve on this committee?
A: Any classified staff member is eligible to represent his/her job classification except for anyone in a supervisory capacity.
Q: How will each job group decide on their representative(s)?
A: It is up to each job group to determine representation. They may use election or volunteerism.
Q: When, how often, and with whom will this committee meet?
A: The initial meeting (late January or early February) will take place with representatives from Central Office for the purpose of facilitating meeting norms and expectations. Chairpersons will be elected for the committee. Following the initial organizational meeting, the committee will meet without administrators present until such time as the committee is ready to make its presentation to the superintendent and his representatives. Those meetings will be set by the committee members and will be as often as they choose to meet. The prioritized list of recommendations will be presented to the Superintendent and his representatives for consideration within the allowable time for budget formulation for the following year (estimated timeframe - late March).
Q: Are the committee members paid for this service?
A: No, this is a volunteer service. Representation is of benefit to employees.
Q: What if no one from a particular job classification wants to serve on this committee?
A: That particular job group will not have a representative to share their perspective. However, the committee will make recommendations for all job classifications combined.
