ANDERSON — After some lecturers notified Anderson Neighborhood Colleges that they might be taking the break day, the varsity system went to an e-learning day Friday.
The day-off notifications got here amid ACS negotiations with the Anderson Federation of Academics. Some ACS lecturers have expressed disenchantment with rising insurance coverage premiums.
“The extreme trainer call-offs got here after our Wednesday assembly with our AFT union the place they gave us the numbers,” mentioned Ashley Loffer, a kindergarten trainer at Erskine Elementary College. Loffer was among the many lecturers who weren’t planning to work Friday. “Our district has acquired hundreds of thousands of {dollars} from the state as a result of COVID. We’ve $10 million reserved in our financial institution.”
In line with Brad Meadows, the ACS director of district and group engagement, the precise variety of lecturers who known as in to take Friday off is unknown, as a result of some lecturers who initially deliberate to take the break day determined to work after the e-learning day was introduced.
Meadows mentioned that the choice to modify to e-learning was as a result of not having sufficient substitutes to cowl lecture rooms for all of lecturers who mentioned they wouldn’t work Friday.
“We stand dedicated to working with the AFT and can preserve open strains of communication with them till an settlement will be reached,” Meadows mentioned in an e mail to The Herald Bulletin.
Throughout a gathering of lecturers Wednesday, the union disclosed particulars of the negotiations on a brand new contract with ACS directors.
Randy Harrison, president of the AFT, mentioned Friday’s day-off notifications weren’t prompted by the union.
“There are an entire bunch of lecturers upset,” Harrison mentioned. “The lecturers are annoyed.”
On Wednesday, Harrison mentioned ACS is dealing with a $2.eight million improve in medical health insurance prices beginning subsequent 12 months.
He mentioned the administration needed a 48% improve in insurance coverage premiums and the union countered with 20%. The 2 sides ultimately agreed to a 33% improve.
Harrison mentioned the union employed consultants to take a look at ACS funds and insurance coverage prices.
“We put proposals on the desk that will not put ACS into deficit spending,” he mentioned.
Marissa Little, lecturers union vice chairman, mentioned the rise in insurance coverage premiums will vary from $53 to $177 per thirty days. Little mentioned the union desires a rise in base pay to cowl the insurance coverage prices.
ACS Superintendent Joe Cronk mentioned he was upset the union invited the media to the Wednesday assembly.
“That’s bargaining in public,” he mentioned. “We’re nonetheless negotiating.”
Cronk mentioned the $2.eight million in insurance coverage prices is a endless expense and the variety of claims has elevated.
The union proposed a $3,300 improve in base wage and a $3,000 pandemic stipend, in line with Harrison. He mentioned ACS provided a $1,000 improve in base pay and $6,000 in stipends by means of three funds.
Harrison mentioned the final supply from ACS was a $2,000 improve within the base pay on a two-year contract with no pay hike within the second 12 months and $6,000 in COVID-19 stipend.
Cronk mentioned any pay improve would come from non-recurring funds within the ACS price range.
“It’s not fiscally accountable to extend the bottom wage on non-recurring funds,” he mentioned. “We provided a 4% improve over two years, front-loaded within the first 12 months.”
“What they’re leaving out is the truth that we’re leaving it as a result of they’re providing solely stipends,” Loffer mentioned. “In addition they took off that if we might comply with the proposal that they need for us, that there will be no negotiations subsequent 12 months.”
Which means if insurance coverage premiums improve once more subsequent 12 months, there can be no bargaining.
Since ACS posted its announcement on Fb about Friday’s e-learning day, many group members, mother and father included, have left supportive messages, whereas others provided differing views.
“All of us love our youngsters and we love our group,” Loffer mentioned. “I perceive the damage and frustration of what occurred in the present day, however I’m simply pleading with them and asking them to look deeper to the details and to know why in the present day occurred.”
Loffer urged group members to achieve out to high school board members, Cronk and monetary advisor Kevin Brown with their issues.
Observe Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or name 765-640-4863.