By Eric Stevick
Herald Writer
LYNNWOOD — The Edmonds School Board is expected to approve a three-year contract with its teachers later this month.
Members of the 1,300-member Edmonds Education Association ratified a district proposal Wednesday, roughly two weeks after rejecting another offer. The school board will vote on the contract Sept. 25.
Medical coverage was the major stumbling block when the teachers soundly rejected the previous offer Aug. 29.
It took some creative financing to break the logjam.
The school district agreed to pick up a portion of its employees’ retirement medical insurance, meaning there will be less out-of-pocket cost to teachers.
"The district found a way, and I applaud their efforts for doing this," said Dan Wilson, president of the Edmonds Education Association.
School district officials say the state allocation for health care does not offset the rate at which the district’s insurance plan is increasing.
Last year, the state provided $426 a month per full-time employee for medical coverage. This year, the state increased that amount to $455 — still not enough to cover increasing premiums, district officials said.
From that health care allocation, the state requires the district to pay back a portion for employees’ medical insurance when they retire. In the new labor contract, the district is agreeing to pay $20 a month this year, $27 a month next year and $34 a month the year after for their teachers’ retirement medical insurance.
"We had to expand our parameters a little bit to reach an agreement," said Wayne Robertson, superintendent of the 21,000-student district.
The district will pass along the same health insurance subsidy to its other employees. Total cost is estimated to be $2.2 million, officials said.
The contract also increased the number of hours teachers can be paid outside the traditional 180-day school year, and doubles to $300 over the next three years the amount they receive to spend on school supplies.
The local negotiations actually account for a small portion of most teachers’ salaries. In general, the state pays most of the salaries for most employees.
Under the new contract, a teacher with 15 years experience, a bachelor’s degree and 90 additional college credits will receive an average salary of $48,949, according to a salary schedule.
You can call Herald Writer Eric Stevick at 425-339-3446
or send e-mail to stevick@heraldnet.com.
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