Wednesday, September 29, 2010

In the news...

Adam at the Herald-independent has an extensive article concerning the contract negotiations:

Teachers in the Monona Grove School District have been working without a contract since June of 2009, and it seems very likely that a resolution will only be reached through an independent arbitrator, both sides concede. Negotiations on a new contract have been deadlocked for much of that time, as the Monona Grove Education Association (MGEA) (representing the teachers) and the School Board have struggled to find common ground on the future of retirement benefits.


Teachers say the school board’s “attacks” on those benefits are unacceptable, and that the board didn’t even offer some other form of compensation in exchange for those proposed reductions.

The school board, on the other hand, says that current retirement benefits for Monona Grove teachers are vastly more generous than neighboring districts, and that sky-rocketing healthcare costs make those benefits unsustainable.
Read more here.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

interesting commentary (well most of it anyway) going on over at http://www.mononarag.com/

Anonymous said...

This email went out to parents of MGHS Seniors – wonder if the teachers will comply:

Dear MG Senior Parents:

You may be aware that the Monona Grove Education Association (MGEA) is “working the contract” as a result of an unsettled contract.

At the September 8, 2010, Monona Grove Board of Education meeting, the MGEA presented a petition to the School Board stating that they will not be writing letters of recommendation requested by students for college applications.

It is the district’s position that writing letters of recommendation for students’ college applications is a required professional responsibility. I recently notified the teaching staff of my expectations of providing such letters at a student’s request.

If your child is denied a letter of recommendation, either verbally or in writing, beginning October 1, 2010, please contact me or high school principal, Dr. Paul Brost. Please keep these communications regarding this issue between you as parents and district administration. I find it very disheartening that students are placed in the middle of this difficult situation and would like to minimize their involvement.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Respectfully,

Craig Gerlach, Superintendent
221-7660 x-325
craig.gerlach@mgschools.net