Teachers Health Trust no longer issue in contract talks

After months of neither side budging, the school district has dropped its demand for the teachers union to give up the Teachers Health Trust it created, according to a Thursday announcement from the Clark County Education Association.

This doesn't bring the two parties closer to a contract agreement for the next two years. Replacing the trust, which provides teachers with health insurance, was never part of the $78 million in concessions that the district is seeking from teachers to balance its budget from 2011-13. The district sought the concession over the health trust to potentially save money, according to the union.

To close the $78 million hole, the district needs to freeze teacher salaries, and teachers must continue to pay into the state employees' retirement system.

The union has been adamant about not accepting the pay freeze taken by the district's support staff and administrators.

The union has held to this position despite the district's warning that if teachers keep their raises, the district must cut 1,000 positions to balance the budget instead.

"The district is focused on saving jobs and holding class sizes steady while the union is solely focused on raises in a downturned economy," district spokeswoman Amanda Fulkerson said. "Taking the health trust off the table was an act of good faith on our part. We'd like the union leadership to follow suit."

The district confirmed Thursday that it offered to drop the trust from deliberations.

"Details like these from arbitration meetings are legally bound to stay within the confines of those meetings," Fulkerson said. "Since the union is broadcasting details, we can confirm that this was one of many ideas put forth by the district in negotiations and a solid example of how serious we are about getting a contract in place that protects jobs and keep teachers in the classroom."

However, the fact remains that the union walked away from the negotiation table and hasn't offered any compromises, she said.

Contact reporter Trevon Milliard at tmilliard@review journal.com or 702-383-0279.

Trending topics:

• arbitration
• Clark County Education Associat
• Clark County School District
• teachers
• Teachers Health Trust

Comments

Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

1. Peter Griffin Feb. 10, 2012 | 2:50 p.m. Report Abuse

   @NATIVE Yes they do, In fact ALL the adminstrators that were surplussed and put back into the classroom are ALREADY promoted back into adminstration. Go FIgure

2. Native.Las Vegan Feb. 10, 2012 | 2:24 p.m. Report Abuse

   While we sit here and argue about teacher and support staff pay, the Teacher's Health Trust and everything else, the district has so many "administrators" (and I'm not even talking about principals and asst. principals in schools, but academic managers, area supervisors, etc.) that their "administrative assistants" need to be designated by Roman numerals. The highest one I ever saw was "Administrative Assistant XXVIII". No college degree required, and I'll bet they make more than most teachers.

3. Peter Griffin Feb. 10, 2012 | 12:25 p.m. Report Abuse

   "Replacing the trust, which provides teachers with health insurance, was never part of the $78 million in concessions that the district is seeking from teachers to balance its budget from 2011-13." THEN WHY THE HELL DID YOU ASK TEACHERS TO DROP IT???? Politics at work here making SOMEONE rich while children and educators suffer further

4. Peter Griffin Feb. 10, 2012 | 12:23 p.m. Report Abuse

   @TEACHER TOO I may be mistaken but didn't CCSD tell ALL TEACHERS in 2005/2006 a ONE TIME pay freeze and ONE TIME pay decrease was to save jobs. How many are teachers suppose to take for their "fellow teacher"? More than half of the teachers are NOT in the CCEA (association ) not a union.

5. Peter Griffin Feb. 10, 2012 | 12:19 p.m. Report Abuse

   @TANKER 100% right AGAIN. CCSD surplussed 300 teachers last year but hired 800 for the new school year and THEN asks ALL CCSD TEACHERS to take a pay cut to keep 1,100 teachers. Let go of the 800 you just hired. Teachers have NOT had a raise since 2005 and have actually LOST pay each year since 2008. Good to know you trust teachers to shape the life of your children as you take their pay away.

6. TankerUSMA1975 Feb. 10, 2012 | 11:19 a.m. Report Abuse

   @riodealer. Do you belong to a union, and do you expect your employer to honor the terms of the contract? That is what is in play here. The school district signed a contract with the CCEA. Part of the terms of that contract was specific language about pay. CCEA has made concessions for the past several years in freezing pay. CCSD has the responsibility to honor it's contract with CCEA. Teachers have no control over CCSD budget issues, that is the sole responsibility of the board and the superintendent. If they can't figure out how to balance their budget, then they need to suffer the consequences. Why did all administrators get new iPads recently. Why did CCSD hire 1000 teachers last year with one time stimulus money from the federal government, when they knew this year CCSD would be responsible for paying those teachers? The CCEA President and Vice-President are paid the same salary they would earn as teachers, which is less than 100K. The members of the Executive Board are not paid by CCEA, they are teachers and teach in classrooms every day. The only two people who are not is classrooms are the President and Vice-President. To teacher too, I would suggest that you take the time to learn more about the CCEA, before you make such wild claims.

7. teacher too Feb. 10, 2012 | 9:47 a.m. Report Abuse

   Lets get some things straight - What I resent is Milliard's talking about "teachers." He is not taling about 99% of us teachers, he is talking about the teachers' UNION. And, the Union never tells the truth in my opinion. I would gladly accept a pay freeze if my colleagues could keep their jobs. Not old Murrillo who I am sure makes over $100,000 a year. And that new thug they hired? He makes over $100,000 a year, probably over $200,000. And the rest of that cast of characters down there? They all make more than $100,000 I a sure of it. To do what? In the end, lots of my colleagues will be fired but what does Murrillo care? He'll never go back to the classroom.

8. Riodealer Feb. 10, 2012 | 7:24 a.m. Report Abuse

   Teacher are forced to take pay cuts! What? They are not asking to cut their wages? They are only asking that the state not be forced to give mandatory raises for the next 2 years. That's not fair. Nevada has one of the best school systems in the country! What? Not the best? Top 3? No. Top 10? No? Top 25? No! What number are we again? 51?!?! Out of 50 states we are 51st? Behind even the D of C.
   
   Well, I guess if they don't want to give up their much deserved raises there is an alternative. Lay off 1,000 teachers! Nevada educators wouldn't let that happen. They care too much about the children. Right? Right? Oh. They're ok with that because the lay offs go by seniority not performance. Good to see they are such a airing and loyal group. Pathetic.

9. overhere Feb. 10, 2012 | 5:58 a.m. Report Abuse

   This "newspaper" IS NOT telling the whole story about the negotiations! It continues to only show one side of the picture. When will this out of state owned paper tell the real story about education in Nevada. Please be kind to one another. Thanks for reading this post.

10. drowsyangel Feb. 9, 2012 | 11:06 p.m. Report Abuse

    They union bash and always are one-sided

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