Arbitrator settles teachers’ contract

By Emily Richmond

Friday, Aug. 30, 2002 | 9:39 a.m.

An arbitrator has settled a contract dispute between the Clark County School District and the union representing the majority of its teachers, officials for the two sides said this morning.

According to the arbitrator's ruling, delivered Thursday, teachers will not get a salary increase above the 2 percent set by the Nevada Legislature during the last session. But the district will have to up its contribution to the teachers' health fund, adding nearly $14 million over the next 18 months.

"It's a good news, bad news situation," said John Jasonek, executive director of the Clark County Education Association representing the teachers. "We're glad to see our health fund increase, but we were hoping for (an) additional 2 percent raise, as well."

Since contract talks between the district and the union broke down last winter, school officials have said there is no money to fund a pay hike. But the union questioned the spending of millions on the reorganization of the district into five regions, as well a pilot program studying block scheduling.

To express their dissatisfaction with the lack of a pay hike, the union is instructing its teachers to "work to the rule" for the first week of September, Jasonek said. That means teachers will not arrive at school before their contracts call for them to start, or stay after hours for clubs, activities or conferences with parents, Jasonek said.

"Work to the rule" is just one of a series of job actions the union has planned for the coming year to draw the community's attention to the plight of teachers, Jasonek said.

"This is much more than just a question of the School District, it's a matter for the Legislature," Jasonek said. "Everyone, from individuals to businesses, need to tell our lawmakers to step up to the plate. Either education is priority or it isn't, it's that simple."

Under the terms of the arbitrator's ruling, the district will also be allowed to change the contract language and require new teachers to stay at one school for a minimum of three years before seeking to transfer. The new rule will help reduce turnover at at-risk schools, said Edward Goldman, southeast region superintendent and one of the district's negotiators.

Jasonek said the new rule will actually increase the turnover rate because dissatisfied teachers will quit outright, instead of simply being reassigned.