Detailed Analysis of Harbor Beach's Teacher Contract

The following is a detailed analysis of the current Harbor Beach Community Schools union contract (located in two parts, here and here) that covers teachers as well as a few other employee groups. The district employs about 30 teachers and enrolls 580 students. Of its $5 million operating budget, about 63 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 11 "steps" on the schedule, meaning teachers get automatic 2 percent pay raises for their first 10 years in the district.
• In addition to step increases, the entire salary schedule increases by 1.5 percent each year.
• 90 percent of teachers have have more than 5 years experience and 81 percent have Bachelor's degrees, meaning the vast majority of teachers' base salary is between $41,059 and $60,539.
• The Michigan Department of Education reported the average teacher salary in Cadillac in 2008-09 was $58,229.
• Longevity payments (actual amounts based on number of college credits earned):
  • 12-14 years: 1.5 percent bonus ($602-$677)
  • 15-19 years: 2 percent bonus ($803-$902)
  • 20-24 years: 3 percent bonus ($1,205-$1,353)
  • 25 or more years: 5.5 percent bonus ($2,209-$2,481)

Fringe Benefits

• The district's current health insurance plan for teachers cost $16,734 per teacher for a family plan.
• Teachers contribute nothing per month to the cost of this premium.
• The average family premium for a health plan in Michigan cost 27 percent less ($13,160) in 2009, with employees contributing 21 percent ($2,800) of those costs.
• The MESSA "Choices II" for teachers includes $100/$200 annual deductibles, co-pays of $5 for an office visit, $10 for urgent care and $25 for the emergency room and a $10/$20 RX plan.
• The district also provides all teachers (with no cost to them) dental, vision, life ($45,000) and long-term disability ($45,000) insurance. These cost the district another $2,220 per family plan.
• The total overall package the district pays for a family plan per teacher is $19,761.84.

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 pension based on 30 years experience in Harbor Beach with base salary of $60,539 (final B.A. step): $27,243 (for most employees, this amount increases by 3 percent every year).

Bonus Pay for Additional Duties or Certification

• Substituting during preparation period: 20 percent of per diem substitute rate
• Extra teaching duties beyond contractual day: $45 per hour
• Drivers education, adult education and summer school: $27.27 per hour
• Mentor teacher: $900
• Annual advisor: $3,356.64

Work Schedule/Environment

• Contractual year: 185 days (180 days of student instruction)
• Work day: 7 hours, 20 minutes
• Duty-free lunch period: 30 minutes
• Maximum of two 45-minute faculty meetings per month
• Preparation periods:
  • Elementary: 150 minutes per week
  • Middle and high school: one preparation period
• Maximum class sizes:
  • K-1st grade: 20
  • 2nd-3rd grade: 25
  • 4th-6th grade: 28
  • Secondary: 28

Leave Time/Sick Days

• Sick days: 10 days
  • Maximum accumulation: 100 days
• Employees are paid $55 per unused sick day once they've accumulated 100 days.
• Personal business days: 2 days
• Bereavement:
  • Immediate family: 5 days
  • Non-immediate family: 2 days
• Union representatives get 10 paid leave days per year (but must pay for substitutes)
• Conventions, education meetings and other professional meetings: 3 days with pay
  • All expenses paid for by the district ($50 per night maximum for lodging)
• Unpaid leaves:
  • Maternity
  • Child care
  • Personal illness (one year)
  • Serving as officer of the United Professional Association
  • Military service
  • Advanced study (one year)

Extra Curricular Activities Compensation:

Athletics:

Extracurricular: