New collective bargaining laws in the state this year created a great deal of consternation among teachers and staff in the Perry School District during the negotiation process. However, the administration and faculty have arrived at contracts that both parties feel is in everyone’s best interest.

Superintendent Clark Wicks feels the District was able to successfully toe the line between paying enough to attract and retain quality teachers and staff, and keeping the school sustainable, which were the two key components of the negotiation process. The School Board ended up approving raises of more than 3% for every school employee, including 3.53% for teachers, which ranked in the top 10% in the state for wage increases. The support staff received raises of 3.94%, which includes $2 more per hour for bus drivers, while the special services group and administration got raises of 3.56% and 3.31%, respectively.

Wicks says it was good to get the negotiation process finished with everyone leaving the table happy, particularly given the insecurity many felt in the wake of the new collective bargaining laws. “The landscape of bargaining and negotiating and labor laws have changed. And now what we have to do is accept the fact that the landscape has changed, in the sense that you can put some of the language in a master contract or you can put it in a handbook. So as far as the service to students (and) the service to the community, we won’t see a change.”

Wicks adds, the District is developing labor management committees for the teachers and support staff, where individuals can discuss issues with the decision makers. He believes that giving the faculty the ability to address their concerns and fears will help make everyone better at their jobs, and ultimately provide a better service to the students.