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Chelsea Education Association holds community meeting on state of Chelsea Schools

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By Crystal Hayduk

It was standing room only in the McKune Room at the Chelsea District Library Wednesday evening, Nov. 19, when the Chelsea Education Association (CEA) presented a community forum about the current status of the school district. Attendees included general members of the community, parents, high school students, and teachers.

The meeting, moderated by Dexter attorney Frank Grohnert, began with presentations by two district teachers. High school English teacher and Link Crew advisor Rachael Wismont highlighted a number of scholastic achievements, such as the 95 percent graduation rate, MEAP scores that have trended upwards in the last five years, average ACT scores of 23.3, and placement in the top 10 percent in the state’s top to bottom rankings.

Beach Middle School teacher Brian Boos said that the primary job of a school district is to educate children, but “… they must also feel seen, heard, appreciated, safe, known, and loved.”

He said that the district is using its money as a safety net rather than to reduce class size, provide remedial courses for struggling students, or to attract and retain quality teachers. Chelsea school teachers have been working without a contract since July 1; and due to state mandate, new hires do not have pensions or health care following retirement. “Many people are unaware of how unattractive teaching has become,” he said.

Boos suggested what can help to remedy the situation by offering new teachers full-time positions and raises that match inflation. “But Chelsea lost four fantastic people last year to places with better offerings. Veteran teachers that we all know and love are looking elsewhere,” he grimly reported.

Boos shared the recent contract timeline, which began in November 2013 when a district-wide health insurance committee assembled, followed by recommendations in March 2014. Contract negotiations began in April, with team meetings from May through August. The last contract ended on June 30. In September, a state mediator was requested, followed by a request for fact finding in October (the first time in the history of the Chelsea School District).

A question-and-answer session followed the presentation, in which about 20 audience members addressed the teachers. Many asked questions about district finances, teacher salaries, and health insurance benefits.

Chelsea Education Association President Rick Catherman said that the district’s fund equity is 18.6 percent as reported at the last board meeting. The starting salary of a full-time teacher is just under $39,000 a year. There was a collective gasp from the audience when they learned that new teachers for the 2012-13 year that had been hired part-time left the district for full-time employment this year.

Audience member and former teacher Lenny Solomon said that when he retired in 2003, new hires could expect $35,000. Adjusted for inflation, “we make less today,” Solomon concluded.

Health insurance was a hot topic, with teachers expressing dissatisfaction with the current “flawed plan.” Teachers and audience members alike emphasized that reliable health insurance is a priority.
It was noted that Chelsea employees pay more than employees in 95 percent of other districts pay. Catherman later clarified that when the state mandated that school employees pay a portion of their own health care costs, districts could choose to either split the cost 80/20 with  their employees or become a hard cap district.

Chelsea is a hard cap district, which means that the district pays a set amount toward health insurance, and the employee pays the balance.  The CEA conceded to pay more to help the district financially, but even though the state law has been amended several times since then, nothing has changed in Chelsea. Currently, 95 percent of hard cap districts pay almost $16,000 toward a family health plan, whereas Chelsea School District pays $14,500.

Former community education director Jeff Rohrer pointed out that state cuts to local funding and increased retirement costs have reduced the district’s income by nearly $1,000 per student. “Who is your real opponent?” he asked. “Your real issue is Lansing.”

The next school board meeting is Monday, Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the Washington Street Education Center. The community is always welcome to attend board meetings, and may express their opinions during the designated time for public input.

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1 thought on “Chelsea Education Association holds community meeting on state of Chelsea Schools”

  1. Lots have changed with the insurance package. Too bad the district won’t present the facts. The Chelsea teachers are paid very well, top 7% in the state, as per MDE. Once again, Mr. Catherman distorted facts until he was called out on it. The facts are important to the settlement. Chelsea sure doesn’t want to end up like Ypsilanti, Willow Run or Whitmore Lake.

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