Detailed Analysis of Saline's Teacher Contract [Mackinac Center]

The following is a detailed analysis of the current Saline Area Schools union contract that covers teachers as well as a few other employee groups. The district employs about 326 teachers and enrolls 5,400 students. Of its $53 million operating budget, about 70 percent goes toward paying employees working under this contract.

Table of Contents:
Salary Schedule
Fringe Benefits
Pension and Retirement Benefits
Bonus Pay for Additional Duties or Certification
Leave/Sick Time
Work Schedule/Environment
Extra Curricular Activities Compensation

Salary Schedule

Base salaries are determined strictly by "steps," which use a matrix of years experience and graduate credit hours and degrees.
There are 10 "steps" on the schedule, so teachers get automatic pay raises (4-7 percent) for their first 10 years in the district.
In addition to step increases, the entire salary schedule increases by 2.5 percent each year.
Teachers also receive longevity payments after achieving 15, 20 and 25 years of employment in the district. Based on the current salary schedule these would amount to $3,954, $7,909 and $11,863, respectively, for teachers with a Masters' degree.
65 percent of teachers have graduate degrees and 75 percent have more than 5 years experience, meaning the vast majority of teachers' base salary is between $63,331 and $83,721.
The Michigan Department of Education reported the average teacher salary in Saline in 2007-08 was $68,615.

Fringe Benefits

District pays $13,634 for teacher health insurance family premiums.
Teachers contribute nothing to the cost of the premium.
Teachers electing to waive health insurance receive an annual stipend of $3,100.
The average family premium plan in Michigan costs $11,300.
Health insurance plan: MESSA Choices II PAK A with $10/$20 RX card and Health Reimbursement Account ($350 per year per teacher)
The district also provides at no cost to teachers a $25,000 life insurance policy, dental and vision.

Pension and Retirement Benefits

District pays $1,200 into a tax sheltered annuity annually for each teacher with more than 15 years experience and $600 for those with less than 15 years.
Every teacher participates in the state-run Michigan Public School Employee Retirement System, a defined-benefit lifetime pension system
Pension calculation: highest 3-year average compensation X 1.5 percent X years of service
Retirement eligibility: 30 years of service at age 46 or 15 years of service at age 55
Teacher contribution: 5.4 percent of salary
After 55, subsidized medical, dental and vision insurance for life (employees never contribute more than 18 percent of premiums)
Annual pension based on 30 years experience in Saline Area Schools with base salary of $79,089 (final M.A. step): $35,590.05
District pays up to $3,000 as a severance package based on unused sick days.
Teachers may also qualify for a $7,000 supplemental retirement stipend.

Bonus Pay for Additional Duties or Certification

Curriculum department chairpersons (39 total): Stipend between 1 and 4.5 percent, based on number of teachers in department. Based on the average teacher salary, this amounts to anywhere between $686 and $3,088.
Teacher mentor program: $2,021 over two years
- Assistants: $606 per year
Transition mentor: $3,200 per year for three years
$700 per year per teacher may be used for "teacher improvement," like conferences, workshops and conventions. Each teachers gets two "improvement days" per year.
IRS rates for mileage driven between school buildings and on field trips
Any summer employment: $24.32/hr
Career Technical Education Department certification: $1,000 stipend

Leave/Sick Time

2 personal days per year (paid $100 per unused day at the end of the year)
3 "professional days" per year for workshops, conferences and conventions, including MEA or NEA-sponsored events.
Sick leave days per year (accumulated without limit):
- 1-10 years experience: 10
- 11-20 years experience: 15
- 21 or more years experience: 20
Sick leave may be used for:
- Illness
- Funerals
- Bereavement
- Immediate family member illness
- Religious observance (3 days max)
Unpaid leaves of absence (teacher may return to same position):
- Exchange/work programs
- Campaigning or serving in public office
- Serving as president of NEA, MEA or Washtenaw County Education Association
Sabbatical leave: one year stints with 50 percent of salary
Saline teachers union president released from half of classroom duties with pay

Work Schedule/Environment

183 work days
Work hours per day: 7.5 (must be in building 15 minutes before start and end of class)
Uninterrupted lunch period: 30 minutes
Hours per work year: 1,373
U.S. average hours per work year: 1,792
No more than 300 minutes of instructional time per week

Extra Curricular Activities Compensation

Coaching (based on experience)
- Baseball, softball, football, basketball, wrestling and volleyball:
- Cross country, track, soccer, swimming and gymnastics:
  - Head coach: $3,304-$8,576
  - Varsity assistant: $2,643-$6,860
  - Junior varsity assistant: $2,478-$6,432
  - Freshman: $2,148-$5,574
  - Middle school: $1,817-$4,716
- Tennis, golf and cheerleading:
  - Head coach: $2,864-$7,432
  - Varsity assistant: $2,291-$5,946
  - Junior varsity assistant: $2,148-$5,574
  - Freshman: $1,861-$4,831
  - Middle school: $1,575-$4,087

Music and Fine Arts (pay based on individual's base salary)
- Music coordinator: 3.69%
- H.S. band director: 4.61%
- H.S. orchestra: 4.61%
- H.S. choir: 4.61%
- H.S. jazz band: 4.61%
- 7th grade band director: 1.845%
- 8th grad band director: 1.845%
- 7th grade orchestra: 1.845%
- 8th grade orchestra: 1.845%
- 7th grade choir: 1.845%
- 8th grade choir: 1.845%
- Marching band:
- 6th grade band director, orchestra and choir: 0.92% each
- 5th grade band director, orchestra and choir: 0.92% each
- Elementary band, orchestra and choir: 0.92% each
- Alla Breve (5th-8th grades): 3.69%

Miscellaneous Extra Duties
- Art shows: $421
- Drama club: $1,518
- Musical
- Pep band: $2,319
- Play director: $1,897
- High school newspaper/yearbook: $4,900
- Business Professionals of America: $1,602
- Elementary camp program (each teacher and director): $421
- 9th and 10th grade class sponsors: $1,518
- 11th and 12th grad class sponsors: $2,529
- Close-up Washington trip: $421
- Cosmetology business operations: $1,560
- Debate: $1,518
- DECA: $2,108
- FFA sponsor: $2,108
- FCCLA sponsor: $2,740
- Future problem solving club: $1,518
- German club: $1,518
- Graduation: $2,108
- Honor Roll: $1,054
- Honor Society: $2,740
- Link crew (8 positions): $421
- Middle school math counts: $1,518
- Model U.N. club: $1,518
- NCA Chair:
  - High school: $2,951
  - Middle school: $2,108
  - Elementary: $1,265
- Middle school newspaper: $1,518
- Quiz Bowl: $1,518
- SADD: $2,319
- Safety patrol: $1,686
- Science Olympiad: $1,518
- M.S. science club: $1,518
- M.S. science fair: $1,518
- Elementary science fair: $421
- STAND: $2,319
- Student council:
  - High school: $2,108
  - Middle school: $1,518
  - Elementary: $421
- TNT business operations: $1,560
- Toronto trip (each teacher): $421
- 9th grade transition coordinator: $1,518
- VICA sponsor (each section): $843
- Video announcement club: $1,518
- M.S. yearbook: $1,265
- M.S. photographer: $1,265
- Writer's Ink: $1,518