Prince Frederick, MD – The leaders of the Calvert Education Association (CEA), the organization that represents Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) teachers has several proposals that it hopes will resolve ongoing contract issues. The CEA’s latest settlement proposal was drafted Tuesday, Oct. 14. Negotiation teams from CEA and CCPS met earlier in the day in an effort to reach an agreement.
The proposal includes a 1 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) to take effect Jan. 1, 2015. Also proposed, teachers who are currently at Step 28 and are restructured to Step 26 will receive a pensionable salary adjustment of 1 percent.
“The superintendent of schools is committed to providing steps and a COLA increase next year and will include steps and a COLA increase in the superintendent’s proposed budget for FY 2016,” the proposal states. “If the [Calvert County] Board [of Education] receives additional unrestricted funding for FY 2015 from state or county government or any other funding source additional negotiations for salary enhancements will be scheduled as soon as practicable.”
The settlement proposal also calls for the school system to provide a “wellness stipend” to teachers who use little or no sick days during a fiscal year.
Other points of the proposal involve issues related to non-classroom hours, transfer requests and reimbursement for teachers who give up his or her planning period and agree to teach an additional class.
According to Joseph T. Sella, the CEA’s chief negotiator, the two sides are expected to meet again Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 9 a.m.
Contract negotiations between the Calvert Association of Educational Support Staff and CCPS are also underway and are set to resume Monday, Oct. 20.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com