December 10, 2008

L-L teachers union’s goal: 3%-4% raises

Proposal would run through ’12-’13 school year. Coverage for health insurance a big hurdle to a new deal.

By Mark Guydish mguydish@timesleader.com
Education Reporter

LEHMAN TWP. – The Lake-Lehman teachers union has proposed a seven-year contract with raises of 3 percent the first two years, 3.25, 3.5 and 3.75 percent the next three, and 4 percent the last two.

The offer and a letter from lead negotiator John Holland were sent to District Superintendent James McGovern, Solicitor Charles Coslett and apparently several board members. The Times Leader obtained a copy anonymously late Tuesday, and Coslett confirmed it was authentic.

Coslett also criticized Holland for sending copies of the offer to McGovern and board members. “I take offense that it was not sent only to me. He knows that when a client is represented by council you cannot communicate with the client, only with the attorney.”

Coslett also called it “ironic” that Holland had committed this breach of “professional conduct” when the union has repeatedly criticized the board for releasing terms of its offer to the public.

The union offer would run from the date the last contract expired – August 2006 – through the 2012-13 school year. It does not offer any changes in health insurance coverage, a key sticking point. The board has dropped a demand that teachers pay part of their health insurance premiums, asking instead that the teachers agree to larger deductibles and co-payments for prescriptions and medical fees.

In his letter, Holland repeats the union contention that membership in the Northeast Pennsylvania School District Health Trust, a consortium formed to lower insurance costs, has saved the district more than $800,000 in the past three years because the Trust has given member districts one month without premium payments each year. Coslett countered that those savings only show the Trust was over-billing, and noted that the Trust is raising premiums 3.6 percent next year.

Holland’s letter rebuts a concern by the district regarding a possible sharp increase in the amount the district will have to pay toward the teacher employee retirement system. The state-run pension fund has lost about $16 billion this year due to the economic downturn, and many boards fear the state will make up the money by demanding steep increases in payments from districts.

Holland notes the current contribution rate is set for modest increases during the life of the proposed contract. Coslett countered that the state can change the rate schedule on short notice.

Holland asks the board to vote on the new offer by Dec. 17. Coslett said the board has a meeting slated for two days earlier, but that he doubts “the board will meet his self-imposed deadline.”


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NO LAWYERS said...

GET COSLETT AND HOLLAND OUT OF THE PROCESS! NOT ONLY WOULD YOU SAVE MONEY THE CONTRACT WOULD GET SETTLED! ALSO DEAR TAXPAYERS THAT SO OVER A 20% RAISE OVER THE LIFE OF THE CONTRACT. MR COSLETT MR. MCGOVERN HAS EVERY RIGHT TO HAVE THIS OFFER HE IS THE BOSS OF THE CONTACT AND NOT YOU THANK GOD!

December 10, 2008 at 7:25 AM

Taxpayer said...

Holland is crazy. People are getting laid off, taxpayers have no money. And he is asking for up to 4%. Basically, there are no concessions from the teachers.

December 10, 2008 at 7:41 AM

Pringle Hill said...

First it is the Northwest teachers going on strike for more money and the same health benefits. Now it is LL wanting more money and no partial payment of health insurance. When are the school boards going to wake up and think of the tax payer for a change. Teacher's unions are no good, whatever happened to the Reagan era?

December 10, 2008 at 8:12 AM

RWilliams said...

Give them 1% each year, if they do not like it, they are free to seek employment elsewhere. Let's see how many leave. Want to bet none will? They should be thankful they are employed.

December 10, 2008 at 8:25 AM

Jeff said...

Coslett needs to get a brain! Tell this guy to move to Florida already. He is mouthing off to the paper about "professional conduct", yet someone anonymously leaked a copy to the media. It was clearly one of the board members and I will bet my bank account it was Mark Kornoski. This board is made up of vindictive, unqualified and clueless members. I feel sorry for everyone in the District because nothing will be solved with these board members.

December 10, 2008 at 10:18 AM

GET RID OF HOLLAND said...

U GOTTA BE KIDDIN ME....BRING HIM UP ON CHARGES!!!!!

December 10, 2008 at 10:49 AM

taxpayer said...

When are Lake-Lehman teachers going to wake up to reality? How many employees get raises as high as 3 to 4%? How many employees do not pay a large portion of their health insurance premiums, AS WELL AS deductibles and co-pays? How many workers do not even get most of the benefits that our elite teachers take for granted? It's way past time that the teachers were accountable/paid on a performance basis -- read today's article about the state science scores. LL's 11th grade scores were 22.3% proficient, well below the county average of 31.5% and the state average of 36%, of which none of those statistics are anything to brag about. Not enough of our students are prepared to enter the work force, let alone adequately prepared to do well at an institution of higher education.

December 10, 2008 at 10:50 AM

jj said...

Are the teachers paying the larger deductibles and co payments?? THEY SHOULD. WE DO. Signed a disgruntled slave to the union demands. IF the teachers union does not like the offered contracts teachers should be free to look elsewhere for employment just like everyone else.

December 10, 2008 at 12:27 PM

mjg said...

This is ridiculous. How much money would you expect to make if you had a bachelors or masters degree and 10 years plus experience. That number would be less than they are making. And do not say tough economic times, because this all started years ago. The school board members are nothing but a bunch of teacher bashers. If teachers made 30K like they want, most that apply would be child molesters.

December 10, 2008 at 12:34 PM

taxpayer said...

Be careful what you read, there are hidden expendetures in Hollands proposal!! Also, the paper did not report want they want for retirement incentive. It will blow your mind!!

December 10, 2008 at 2:50 PM

LL Parent said...

Teacher want raises for Chrismas. I want science teachers who know how to teach. Mr K you should be embarrassed.

December 10, 2008 at 3:23 PM

Harveys Lake Taxpayer said...

It is time for the district to settle. The teachers have been without a raise for 3 years and have struggled with energy costs just like everyone else. Many good teachers have already left the district for higher pay in other districts and other fields.

December 10, 2008 at 3:53 PM

Harveys Lake taxpayer said...

Hey taxpayer! In any field better performance is expected with better compensation. I'm surprised test scores at Lehman are as high as they are with the way the board disrespects the teachers. Personal incomes in Lake-Lehman School District have increased an average 3.7% a year for the last 5 years. That includes the teachers whose incomes have increased 0% for the last 3 years. That is a fact that can be confirmed by the PA Department of Education.

December 10, 2008 at 4:00 PM

Get Serious said...

Time to get new players on both sides. Everyone is suffering including the kids.The entire situation is being handled with the attitude "we'll show them" and its going no where fast. Give em 2 weeks to resolve it. If not resolved, lock them all in a room and don't let them out till they have an accepted contract. Enough is enough!

December 10, 2008 at 4:35 PM

Outraged said...

I thought we had problems at Northwest. These unions and their representatives are out of touch with the rest of society. When you compound the interest and add in the step raise you are looking at a 33% salary increase across the board. Average L-L Salary is $48,600 times 33% equals a $16,038 raise for a grand total of $64,648. Cut the taxpayers a break, PLEASE.

December 10, 2008 at 4:44 PM

KIM said...

This same thing is happening at Northwest and the sticking point is health insurance. I can't believe that the teachers are not willing to pay 5-6% of the insurance, do they realize that that would be under $100.00 a month? I only make $9000.00 a year and pay $35.00 for only medical, no dental, perscription or vision!!!!! I am so tired of hearing that the teachers deserve all that they make. Well guess what so does everyone else. Parents need to take their kids out of public schools who strike and place them somewhere else or school them at home. When the schools are empty, maybe the state will finally get rid of strikes and unions.

December 10, 2008 at 5:28 PM

Proud Parent said...

Let the contract go to the WHOLE school board for a vote. I don't want the district to pay for more than they should but if the teachers are giving in to paying higher deductables on their insurance that is a big savings when buying insurance. If the board does not have a public vote on the contract they don't care for our kids

December 10, 2008 at 6:44 PM

Jerky Boy said...

Hey Kornoski, do you want that copy of the proposal back, or is it just trash for the wastebasket.

December 10, 2008 at 7:46 PM

Sigh said...

I know this is pointless because most of you are blinded by your hatred and jealousy, but here goes. Lake Lehman is begin asked to accept the same health care package as Valley West and Dallas. The deductibles go up big time on top of what they already pay. Northwest's is even worse, 5% this year, 6% next year, PLUS an extra 2.6 reduction each year, PLUS language that puts the teacher's at the mercy of the board. Is this honestly what you expect professionals to accept? The Northwest and Lehman boards hate teachers, so do most of you. You need to get an education before you mouth off. Just because you're uneducated, don't spite the people who are trying to create functional, educated adults. At least make an attempt to read and understand the proposals.

December 10, 2008 at 8:12 PM

In the know said...

The amount of the raises shown here do not reflect the real value. You must add 1.125 to all the raises for step movement.The umion will not tell the truth ,they do not want the taxpayers to see the real cost of this assnine offer.so when all said and done the last two years is almost a 65 raise. What does Holland think we are nuts.

December 11, 2008 at 5:42 AM

Teachers, stop the whining said...

If market forces were applied to public education excellent teachers would be paid $30k to $40k a year plus benefits and the poor performers would be replaced quickly. I'm a real electrical engineer with BSEE and MSEE degrees, and I could easily teach ANY subject K-12; few if any teachers could jump into my job and be productive on day one or day one hundred and eighty. Market forces dictate compensation in my field and many engineers working a 2000 hour work year make less than public school teachers working a 1440 hour work year. Now do you realize the discrepancy and understand why people believe most public school teachers are overpaid.

December 11, 2008 at 8:08 AM

PROUD TEACHER said...

Hey winer. YOU WOULDN'T LAST ONE DAY doing my job. You speak out of ignorance, just like the rest of the jealous, ignorant big mouths who pretend to know everything. Also, your so called "market prices" are completely FICTIONAL. Inform yourself before you go making idiotic comments full of ignorance.

December 11, 2008 at 4:05 PM

B.H. said...

Hey Teach...how do you spell WHINER? Please, give me the electrical engineer any day over you...I rest my case!

December 11, 2008 at 5:50 PM

Mother Nature said...

Well, PROUD TEACHER - where did you learn to spell? Lake Lehman School District? If you are a teacher, you are a poor example! WHAT MAKES YOU SO HIGH AND MIGHTY THAT YOU SHOULD GET THOSE KIND OF RAISES AND NOT PAY INTO YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE? We that work for the state don't get those kind of bennies and WE DO pay into our health care, each payday! FACE REALITY - YOU WANT TO PLAY? THEN YOU PAY, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER WORKING STIFF OUT THERE. You are a disgrace!

December 11, 2008 at 6:31 PM

PROUD TEACHER said...

B.H. It's completely obvious how ignorant you are when the only pathetic point you can make is a little spelling error. Yeah, that really shows how incompetent I am.... By the way, who do you think taught you and that electrician how to read and write? Show some respect! If my job is so easy than why do 50% of teachers quit the profession within 5 years? I'll tell you why...LOW PAY, tons of educational credits that are required and off base criticism from ignorant people like you who think they know what I do everyday.

December 11, 2008 at 10:19 PM

PROUD TEACHER said...

Hey mother. Let me tell you what makes me so "high and mighty". Its called an EDUCATION....two master's degrees. But, if you place no value on education, like you, then you would not understand. Just because I paid attention in school and got an education and you chose to goof off, don't try to bring me down to your level. Most of those state workers you refer to have no higher than a high school diploma. I've earned better pay because I have the same education as a doctor or lawyer...I AM A PROFESSIONAL. Now pay me like one. If you can't, then provide low cost health care as compensation. That's right, LOW COST...because teachers already pay for thier health care with copays and deductables. Again, you are ignorant just like most others on here and don't know what you are talking about...so you should SHUT IT!

December 12, 2008 at 4:40 PM

B.H. said...

Proud Teacher, a little spelling error? Do you NOT teach your students to proofread their work? Who is ignorant? And who is to say that a Teacher taught the engineer to read and write? Let me fill you in on something, when we moved, within the same school district, my son had not even started to learn writing. In his new school. the teacher was finished and it was tough cookies! she was NOT going to teach my son. Guess who taught the child to write...me. So don't pat yourself on the back to quickly, Proud Teacher, I doubt very much how much You have taught vs the parents who do your job!

December 12, 2008 at 7:44 PM

hey teacher said...

I guess you are one of the old ones who wants the big buyout.I am sure that you are one of the READY TO GO TEACHERS. that just sit at your desk and do nothing for the half day you work.

December 14, 2008 at 8:02 AM


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