Labor Negotiations Update

The North Marion School District Board of Directors has been asked for information regarding current negotiations with our teachers.  The teacher’s existing contract is still in place until we complete work on the replacement.  We care deeply about our district staff, students, and the programs that we provide to support students at each stage of their education.  We have been working with teachers on a new contract since May of 2021, and we are glad we are making progress.  On Wednesday, April 27, we reached tentative agreement on six articles, agreed that there would be no changes to seven articles, and planned for additional meetings to discuss the remaining articles.

Financial conversations can be challenging, as the district strives to provide staff a competitive salary, benefits, and the best working conditions possible while remaining fiscally responsible.  We want our staff to have the best increase we can offer in a fiscally responsible way.  Over the past decade, we have invested funds in keeping class sizes low and providing students with as much support as possible with additional instructional assistants and specialists.  The increased costs will make these investments challenging to continue.

We discuss working conditions and concerns on a regular basis, with monthly meetings between the association leaders and Superintendent to hear concerns from their members, and they hear concerns from management.  We also hear regularly from staff at our board meetings and appreciate the information they share with us.  These steps are regular and normal processes used in our district to keep communication flowing.  We know the stresses of school where COVID-19 has taken its toll.  We look forward to better days. 

With declining enrollment since 2015, we are now facing the possibility of having to reduce spending across the board to provide funds for the increased wages and benefits that are being discussed.  Declining enrollment means the district has less money to fund its schools.  Additional wage increases can be provided to all staff, but it will also impact other areas.  Our staff members deserve the best, and so do our students.  Our goal is to create a solution that balances the needs of staff and students in a manner that keeps the district financially secure in the face of upcoming economic uncertainty.