School Board, UCEA Agree to New Terms Thursday

The Board of Education of University City approved the 2012-13 University City Education Association (UCEA) Agreement Thursday in a special board meeting. The agreement provides for a 3.58 percent salary increase for certified employees.

The agreement between the Education association and the  was approved by a 4-0 vote. 

Board of Education Directors Rick Salamon, Rodney Jennings and Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal were not in attendance at the 6:15 p.m. special meeting.

There were six articles approved in the collective bargaining agreement. They are as follows:

Article I

Calendar — UCEA and the administration agreed on a school calendar that includes:

• 174 student contact days
• 188.5 teacher contract days
• 2.5 teacher work days
• Seven professional development days
• Three parent-teacher conference days

Article II

The salary and benefits portion of the contract included provisions on an indexed salary schedule, consistency and clarity in extra-duty contracts and compensation for teachers whose classrooms are impacted by construction (added personal days as per 2010-11 precendent).

The agreement includes:

• Establishing a subcommittee of administration and UCEA representatives to devise an indexed salary schedule for 2013-14
• Human Resources providing clarity for employees who have questions relative to extra-duty contracts
• Additional certified employees serving on the benefits committee
• Allocating at least one personal business day for certified employees impacted by District construction projects
• 2012-13 certified employee salary increase of 3.58 percent

Article III

The UCEA and the administration reached consensus regarding the District providing a registered nurse in each building being negotiated with teh University City Federation of Teachers (UCFT).

Article IV

The section on policies/blue book changed the language of several District policies, including:

• Revising Regulation 4020 to indicate collective bargaining in lieu of meet and confer
• Monitoring the bereavement regulation to ensure appropriate access for employees
• Collaboratively agreeing upon a social media policy per state requirements ().
• Monitoring Regulation 4855 to ensure consistent application
• Providing teachers with 250 minutes of weekly planning per Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) guidelines
•  Replacing the 19-step salary schedule with a 20-step salary schedule

Article V

The district will provide staff development as required by the State of Missouri. This includes:

• Adhering to the state monetary requirements set forth by DESE, as well as Board approved guidelines for designing professional development
• Adhering to Regulation 4512 by allowing the District/building professional development committees to collaboratively plan activities with administration and staff.

Article VI

Staff welfare and working condition provisions include:

• Permitting the superintendent to create the District Staff Advisory Committee (DSAC) vision/mission/goals
• Permitting the Operations Department to work collaboratively with administration, staff, parent and students toward properly maintaining all District facilities.