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WOODSFIELD -- The Switzerland of Ohio Board of Education announced Thursday that it wants to reach a new contract agreement with its teaching staff and believes it has made a fair offer to the union that represents them.
The board said it has offered the Switzerland of Ohio Education Association a 15 percent base salary increase over three years.
The proposal would provide a 5 percent increase each year of the contract.
Teachers' insurance plan would remain the same as it is now with the board paying 90 percent of premiums for health care and teachers paying the other 10 percent.
"The Board made its salary offer to the SOEA because it wants to ensure that quality teachers come to and stay with our District," Board President Sarah Smith said in a news release Thursday. "We believe that this is about as generous of a salary offer as you will find in the State."
In addition to the salary increase, the board said members of the SOEA already are contractually guaranteed to receive a portion of the district's public utility personal property revenues, which last year amounted to about $1,900 for each teacher.
The board's last bargaining proposal to the SOEA included a number of proposed contract changes that board members believe would improve education for students. Those include:
n Restrictions on teachers using personal days for outside employment, to ensure that teachers' primary focus is on their work in the classroom;
n Greater flexibility for the assignment of teachers to students based on their qualifications; and
n Increased compensation for coaching positions to encourage greater staff participation and involvement in student activities.
According to the board, the SOEA declared impasse on Sept. 3.
"The Board is serious about reaching a settlement with the SOEA that ensures a quality education for the District's students," Smith said. "The latest proposal from the Board clearly reflects that."
The board and SOEA are scheduled to meet again with a federal mediator on Dec. 15.