In an attempt to move contract negotiations forward, the Mahomet-Seymour Education Association presented a counter offer to the Mahomet-Seymour School District’s “last, best and final” offer on Friday.
According to union leadership, details of that offer are not available because it was called a “supposal” meant to create discussion among the two parties. Still, Cameron Zindars, a teacher at Mahomet-Seymour High School and union member said the offer was “a significant compromise on our outstanding issues.”
Middletown Prairie Elementary teacher and union leader Meg Jones approached the board of education during Monday’s regularly scheduled meeting as she apologized, saying she had hoped the MSEA and the district could have already come to an agreement.
The district and the MSEA met again prior to the meeting Monday.
Jones said that the district and the union have common interests: “we all want what is best for our kids.”
While the union is asking for additional dollars in their salary, they are also focused on the learning environment within Mahomet-Seymour. Teachers are asking for adequate plan time in light of additional responsibilities due to the substitute teacher shortage. They are also asking the district to commit to classroom size.
“Their learning conditions are our working conditions,” Jones said.
Mahomet-Seymour is also struggling to find teachers, bus drivers and custodians — a plague that is affecting education on the national stage. The district is offering hiring bonuses to attract new candidates while the union is asking for salaries that meet those found in similar districts throughout the state in order to keep the seasoned teaching staff Mahomet-Seymour currently employs.
“Because we believe in this work so deeply, we will continue to be open to discussing a way to reach an agreement with the board,” Jones said. “Nobody wants a strike and we are asking you, please, work with us to avoid one.”
Board members Ken Keefe, Max McComb and Sunny McMurry have been the three board members in negotiation meetings over the summer months. Board members Colleen Schultz and Meghan Hennesy voiced their frustration in lack of information about the negotiation process during Monday’s meeting.
Hennesy said she learned that the district had presented its last, best and final offer through the Mahomet Daily, not from fellow board members or district leadership. Schultz felt like because the board had never discussed salary within what is being negotiated, looking at the proposed FY 2023 budget was murky.
In a Sept. 7 email interview, Superintendent Kenny Lee said “We brief the entire board during executive session at board meetings. As is customary the board takes a vote on approving the contract after the bargaining unit approves the contract.”
The tentative budget is based on the district’s offer Sept. 2 offer. That is outlined below under “District Offer”. The “MSEA Ask” has likely changed from this information that was provided on Sept. 7.
| District Offer | MSEA Ask | |
| Certified Staff | Year 1-4.25% Year 2-4.25% Year 3-4.25% Year 4-4.25% | Year 1-5.0% Year 2-5.0% Year 3-5.0% Year 4-5.0% |
| Paraprofessionals | Year 1-7.0% Year 2-7.0% Year 3-7.0% Year 4-7.0% | Year 1-$1.50/hour Year 2-$1.50/hour Year 3-$1.50/hour Year 4-$1.50/hour |
| Transportation-$1.25/hr which equates to: | Year 1-6.88% Year 2-6.40% Year 3-5.99% Year 4-5.63% | Year 1-$1.50/hour Year 2-$1.50/hour Year 3-$1.50/hour Year 4-5.75% |
| EOP’s-$1.25/hr which equates to: | Year 1-6.31% Year 2-5.93% Year 3-5.59% Year 4-5.29% | Year 1-$1.50/hour Year 2-$1.50/hour Year 3-$1.50/hour Year 4-5.75% |
| Custodians-$1.25/hr which equates to: | Year 1-7.10% Year 2-6.62% Year 3-6.20% Year 4-5.83% | Year 1-$1.50/hour Year 2-$1.50/hour Year 3-$1.50/hour Year 4-5.75% |
The MSEA is delivering statistics about the union’s position through their Facebook page while the district has released a statement on their website.
