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GoogleThe master teaching contract was approved in a 7-0 vote by the board.
The 2009-2010 contract includes a salary scale increase of 2 percent from the 2008-09 scale.
The contract also updates the teacher seniority list as well as changes the retirement incentive to allow eight teachers to retire and receive a one-time $25,000 contribution to an annuity account.
Language was also added to the contract to allow a one-time deposit into members VEBA account of three quarters of one percent prior to Dec. 31, 2009.
Adjustments and language in the extra-curricular scale were also made.
Prior to the contract's approval discussion was opened.
Superintendent Dan Sichting explained, "I hope the state doesn't cut us (funding). But, if the state cuts us we'll have to make cutbacks..."
That will definitely play into the future, he added.
Board president Marvin Helms commented on the timely manner in which the contract was reached.
"It was good to get it done in a nice, timely fashion," he said.
Collective bargaining on the tentative agreement began on Oct. 5 and two bargaining sessions were held with the Bloomfield Teacher's Assocation.
The tenative agreement was ratified by the BTA Oct. 28.
BTA President Ben Helms also commented on the process.
"I was tickled to death, it was done in such a civil and friendly manner," he explained.
In a 7-0 vote, the board also approved a two percent increase to the support staff wage schedule retroactive to July 1, 2009.
During discussion, Sichting commented that the increase "was a minimum cost that was less than $20,000 to do."
He also stressed that the support staff deserves the increase.
Helms also noted, "I'm just glad you got this done. It makes for a better climate."
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The $25000 incentive to retire early is a good thing. Maybe some of the teachers will take it so in future years Bloomfield will have "above state average" scores on the ISTEP.
Isn't it a shame that Bloomfield has come to wish for above state average scores? I believe 2% is too much if you give raises based on performance.
Isn't that one of the purposes of the ISTEP, to grade the teacher and how well they prepare the kids? The only way a teacher can boost that grade is to do a better job teaching.
I agree ISTEP does force teachers to teach to the test. I think that is a shame also.
I'm not sure about the other schools, but I know Bloomfield teaches to the ISTEP test. This is what makes the BELOW AVERAGE ISTEP scores at Bloomfield even more disappointing.
Most, if not all, of the Math curriculum is centered around the ISTEP test. They are constantly given tests/quizzes/worksheets that have questions that are identical to the type of questions that are on the ISTEP, but yet the the teachers are not able to adequately prepare our kids.
Maybe one of the reasons is because of the many Disney/kids movies that are shown. I have no problem with movies that are subject related or educational, but the movies that have been shown are rediculous. These movies were not shown as a reward for good work, but used as more of a baby sitter.