Detailed Analysis of Forest Hills' Teacher Contract

The following is a detailed analysis of the current Forest Hills Public Schools uni on contract that covers teachers as well as a few other employee groups. The district employs about 690 teachers and enrolls 10,100 students. Of its $103 million operating budget, about 69 percent goes toward paying employees working under this contract.

Salary Schedule

Base salaries are determined strictly by "steps," which use a matrix of years experience and graduate credit hours and degrees.
There are 12 "steps" on the schedule, meaning teachers get automatic 4 to 5 percent pay raises for their first 11 years in the district.
In addition to step increases, the entire salary schedule increases by 2 percent each year.
72 percent of teachers have graduate degrees and 78 percent have more than 5 years experience, meaning the vast majority of teachers' base salary is between $53,262 and $77,019.
The Michigan Department of Education reported the average teacher salary in Forest Hills in 2008-09 was $64,460.
Teachers also get step increases between 2 and 4 percent in their 16^th, 20th, 24^th and 28th years in the district.

Fringe Benefits

The district's current health insurance family plan for teachers cost $13,506-14,748 per teacher in 2009.
Teachers contributed nothing per month to the cost of this premium.
The average family premium for a health plan in Michigan cost $11,300 in 2009, with employees contributing 22 percent ($2,500) of those costs.
The "Super Care" plan includes $100 deductible for individuals and $200 deductable for families, no office co-pays and a $10/$20 RX plan.
Each teacher who does not enroll in a medical insurance plan gets $41 per month.
The district also provides at no cost to teachers dental, vision, life ($35,000) and long-term disability insurance.
The district also puts $600 per year into a teacher's tax-sheltered annuity.
Any prescription drugs above $400 per year are reimbursed by the district.
Reimbursement for unused sick days at retirement:
- $45 for 128-175 unused sick days.
- $65 for 176-200 unused sick days.
- $75 for 200+ unused sick days.

Pension and Retirement Benefits

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
After 55, subsidized medical, dental and vision insurance for life (employees never contribute more than 18 percent of premiums)
Annual starting pension based on 30 years experience in Forest Hills with base salary of $77,019 (final M.A. step): $34,659 (this amount increases by 3 percent every year)

Bonus Pay for Additional Duties or Certification

Auditorium supervisor: $3,448
Diversity coordinator: $1,915
Volunteer coordinator: $1,532
K-6 teacher in charge: $1,149
K-12 department chairs: $1,915
The district will reimburse up to $160 for required certification or license.
Tuition reimbursement for Master's degree: $1,000 per course for up to 4 courses per year
Teaching overloads (more than 1.0 FTE): $7,664
Class size overloads:
- Elementary and middle school: $500 or teaching aid per semester.
- High school: $100 per kid per semester.
Inclusion students (special education): $1,150
Teaching a telecommunication course: $1,150
Summer school: $30/hour
Teachers get $19 to $21 per hour for:
- Adult education
- Summer curriculum study
Subbing for a regular class: $21/hour
Travel annual reimbursement between buildings:
- One building: $1,915.
- Two or more: $3,831

Work Schedule/Environment

Contractual year: 186 days
Maximum class size: 23-30, depending on grade level and type of class.
Staff meetings:
- Maximum 2 per month.
- Not to exceed 60 minutes past end of working day.
Duty free lunch period: 35 minutes.
Parent-Teacher Conferences:
- Limited to 3 per year
- Compensatory time of 1/2 day for each evening conference
Teaching loads:
- Middle and high schools: 5 teaching periods per day
- Elementary: 215 minutes of preparation time per week

Leave Time/Sick Days

Personal leave: 3 days (can accrue up to 4 days per year)
Sick leave allowance: 10 days
- Unlimited accumulation
Family bereavement: 3 days for immediate family and 1 for non-immediate family
Paid leave:
- Critical care leave: 119 days max (costs for substitute deducted from pay)
- Sabbatical leave up to 1 year ($12,000 salary)
Unpaid leave (employees guaranteed job upon returning from leave):
- Serving as union representative (unlimited)
- "Special" leave (one year)
- Child care (one year)
- Public office (one year)
- Honorary (one year)
- Military service (five years)

Extra Curricular Activities Compensation (based on years of experience)


Position	MIN	MAX
Varsity Football	$5,172.93	$6,897.24
Varsity Asst. Football	$3,065.44	$4,214.98
JV Football	$3,640.21	$4,406.57
JV Asst. Football	$3,065.44	$4,214.98
Freshman Football	$3,640.21	$4,406.57
Middle School Skills	$300.00	$300.00
Building Football
Varsity Basketball	$5,172.93	$6,897.24
JV Basketball	$3,640.21	$4,406.57
Freshman Basketball	$3,640.21	$4,406.57
Middle School Basketball	$1,724.31	$2,682.26
Middle School Recreational BB	$450.00	$450.00
Middle School Skills Bldg. BB	$300.00	$300.00
Varsity Wrestling	$4,981.34	$5,939.29
JV/Freshman Wrestling	$2,969.65	$3,927.60
Middle School Wrestling	$1,724.31	$1,724.31
Varsity Hockey	$4,981.34	$5,747.70
Varsity Swimming	$4,981.34	$5,747.70
Assistant Swimming	$2,969.65	$3,736.01
Varsity Diving Coach	$2,969.65	$3,736.01
Middle School Swimming	$1,724.31	$2,490.67
Middle School Asst. Swimming	$1,341.13	$1,724.31
Middle School Diving	$766.36	$1,149.54
Varsity Volleyball	$4,981.34	$5,747.70
JV/Freshman Volleyball	$2,969.65	$3,736.01
Middle School Volleyball	$1,724.31	$2,682.26
Middle School Recreational VB	$450.00	$450.00
Middle School Skills Bldg. VB	$300.00	$300.00
Varsity Gymnastics	$4,981.34	$5,747.70
Assistant Gymnastics	$1,724.31	$2,490.67
Gymnastics Skills	$650.00	$650.00
Varsity Competitive Cheer	$4,981.34	$5,747.70
Sideline Cheer	$2,107.49	$2,873.85
Assistant Cheer	$650.00	$650.00
Varsity Baseball	$4,214.98	$5,172.93
JV Baseball	$2,586.47	$3,544.42
Freshman Baseball	$2,586.47	$3,544.42
Middle Schools Skills Bldg. Baseball	$300.00	$300.00
Varsity Softball	$4,214.98	$5,172.93
JV Softball	$2,586.47	$3,544.42
Freshman Softball	$2,586.47	$3,544.42
Middle School Recreational Baseball	$450.00	$450.00
Varsity Soccer	$4,214.98	$4,981.34
Assistant Soccer	$2,969.65	$3,927.60
Varsity Track	$4,214.98	$5,172.93
Assistant Track	$2,969.65	$3,927.60
Middle School Track	$1,724.31	$2,490.67
Varsity Cross Country	$3,065.44	$4,214.98
Assistant Cross Country	$1,915.90	$2,682.26
Middle School Cross Country	$1,724.31	$2,490.67
Varsity Golf	$3,065.44	$4,214.98
Assistant Golf	$2,299.08	$3,065.44
Varsity Tennis	$3,065.44	$4,214.98
Assistant Tennis	$2,299.08	$3,065.44
Middle School Tennis	$1,724.31	$2,490.67
Middle School Skills Bldg. Tennis	$300.00	$300.00
Varsity Boys'/Girls' Bowling	$3,065.44	$4,214.98
Varsity Skiing	$3,065.44	$4,214.98
Assistant Skiing	$1,915.90	$2,682.26
Varsity Water Polo	$4,214.98	$4,981.34
Assistant Water Polo	$2,299.08	$3,065.44
Varsity Crew	$4,214.98	$4,981.34
Assistant Crew	$2,299.08	$3,065.44
Varsity Lacrosse	$4,214.98	$4,981.34
Assistant Lacrosse	$2,299.08	$3,065.44
Head Pom Pom	$3,065.44	$4,598.16
Middle School Events Coordinator	$5,364.52	$6,130.88
Special Olympics	$957.95	$1,724.31
HS Music Director (Band, Orchestra, Vocal)	$2,490.67	$3,257.03
HS Jazz Director (Band/Vocal)	$1,149.54	$1,149.54
HS Instrumental Solo and Ensemble	$1,149.54	$1,149.54
HS Vocal Solo and Ensemble	$383.18	$383.18
HS Summer Band Camp (On-Site)	$1,532.72	$1,532.72
HS Summer Band Camp (Off-Site)	$2,299.08	$2,299.08
HS Summer Orchestra Camp	$574.77	$574.77
HS Sports Band	$766.36	$766.36
HS Asst. Marching Band (over 100 students)	$574.77	$574.77
Visual Guard (School Year and Band Camp)	$766.36	$766.36
7-8 Music Director (Band, Orchestra, Vocal)	$1,532.72	$1,532.72
7-8 Solo and Ensemble (Band, Orchestra, Vocal)	$766.36	$766.36
8th Grade Jazz Director (Band, Vocal)	$766.36	$766.36
6th Grade Music Director (Band, Orchestra, Vocal)	$1,053.75	$1,053.75
K-5 Music Productions	$1,053.75	$1,053.75
K-4 Music Productions	$1,053.75	$1,053.75
High School Musical Director	$4,214.98	$4,981.34
High School Play Director	$2,586.47	$3,352.83
High School Variety Show Director	$2,586.47	$3,352.83
7-8 Play Director	$1,724.31	$1,724.31
7-8 Variety Show Director	$1,724.31	$1,724.31
Junior Class Variety Show Director	$1,053.75	$1,053.75
9-12 Play/Musical/Variety Show Support Staff	$1,053.75	$1,053.75
7-8 Play/Variety Show Support Staff	$1,053.75	$1,053.75
Debate Coach	$2,107.49	$3,065.44
Forensics Coach	$1,724.31	$2,490.67
Science Olympiad Coach	$1,724.31	$2,490.67
Odyssey of the Mind (2)	$1,724.31	$1,724.31
Mock Trial Election	$1,532.72	$1,532.72
International Model UN	$957.95	$957.95
DECCA	$957.95	$957.95
Social Club (2)	$957.95	$957.95
Diversity Club	$766.36	$766.36
Middle School Math Counts	$700.00	$700.00
5-12 Club Teams (2 per building)	$350.00	$350.00
9-12 Ski Club Advisor	$191.59	$191.59
7-8 Ski Club Advisor (2 if over 150 students)	$1,149.54	$1,149.54
5-6 Ski Advisor	$191.59	$191.59
K-6 Student Council	$574.77	$574.77
7-8 Student Council	$1,341.13	$1,341.13
9-12 Student Council	$1,724.31	$1,724.31
9-12 National Honor Society (99 or less members)	$1,149.54	$1,149.54
9-12 National Honor Society (100 or more members)	$1,532.72	$1,532.72
Freshman Class Sponsor	$957.95	$957.95
Sophomore Class Sponsor	$957.95	$957.95
Junior Class Sponsors (2)	$1,436.93	$1,436.93
Senior Class Sponsors (1.5)	$1,724.31	$1,724.31
9-12 School Yearbook Advisor With Class	$1,341.13	$1,341.13
7-8 School Yearbook Advisor With Class	$574.77	$574.77
K-6 School Yearbook Advisor	$478.98	$478.98
9-12 School Newspaper Advisor With Class	$957.95	$957.95
7-8 School Newspaper Advisor	$574.77	$574.77
K-6 School Newspaper Advisor	$383.18	$383.18

Detailed Analysis of Forest Hills' Teacher Contract

Teacher Contract Analysis

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