By JOYELL NEVINS

Record Herald Editor

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BETHEL TOWNSHIP - Bethel Local Schools and the Bethel Education Association (BEA) finally came to a three-year collective bargaining agreement after months of discussion that went into effect last Thursday. The Board of Education barely passed the agreement, however, coming to a 3-2 split. Don Whitaker and Deb Watson gave the “no” votes.

The main issue was concerning the teacher’s salary schedules. The new contract included what is called a “hard freeze” - no wage increases or step column advancement. Whatever the teachers are being paid now is exactly what they’ll be paid three years from now.

“They [the teachers] have not taken a cut in pay,” said Watson, “You have to give up something you already have to be considered a cut.”

She added that at many of the community meetings held earlier in the season, Bethel residents said if they were to pass another levy, the teachers should take a cut in pay.

“I told the community I would be their voice at the table,” Watson said.

Other changes to the agreement are as follows:

• Health insurance premiums were raised from 10 percent to 17 percent, and 15 percent to 22 percent.

• Dental insurance went from a five dollar flat rate to a 20 percent premium.
• Tuition reimbursement, given to the BEA in one chunk to be divvied up among their members, was $10,000. It now will be nothing in 2011, $5,000 in 2012, and back to $10,000 in 2013.
• Instead of receiving severance pay in a lump sum (one quarter of all accumulated sick days), BEA teachers may either take the lump sum or have it put as a contribution to a 403(b) account.

• In future negotiations, an impasse may be declared by either party, not just the BEA.
• The Teacher Work Day held in January is free of mandatory administration-assigned training.
• The WOEA Day, another time of professional development, can be taken on the date itself, or at a weekend or evening workshop.
• In-laws are now considered immediate family when it comes to using sick leave.

The contract is effective from August 1, 2011, through July 31, 2014.