District provides feedback about agreement

SYCAMORE— Community members and the Mohawk Education Association (MEA) have brought up concerns and questions regarding Mohawk Local School District and its teaching contracts. On Aug. 8, the MEA posted a flier that claimed within the last two years, the district has eliminated four of its certified instructors without making a plan to replace them, and has refused to revise their teacher contracts for the upcoming school year. The release also claimed among twelve area school districts, the salaries of Mohawk School's superintendent and treasurer place in the top three, yet according to the Ohio Department of Education, among those same schools, the current salaries of Mohawk School's teaching staff rank ninth of twelve. "We would like to nurture a healthy environment for our students, promote pride in our community and Warrior Nation, and foster collaboration, support, and communication among all staff members in our building," said Amanda Sivillo, spokesperson for MEA. "We would like to meet the above objectives, in addition to reopening negotiations on our current contract agreement." As the MEA and local community members strive to re-open the teaching negotiations, Mohawk released a fact sheet containing frequently asked questions regarding the Tentative Agreement with the MEA. According to the document, the parties involved, negotiations settled on a three-year agreement through July 1, 2026, with "Base salary increases of 3%, 3%, and 3%." A stipend/bonus paid upon completion of each year of the agreement is part of the negotiation with the following amounts: 2023-2024, 0.5% of the teacher's regular salary; 2024-2025, 1% of the teacher's regular salary; 2025-2026, $1,500. Additionally, the agreement provides a signing bonus of $3,000 for new teachers hired after July 1, 2023, provides an increase in the academic work rate from $22 per hour to $27 per hour, and an increase in the amount of payment made for unused personal days at the end of each school year from $100 per day to $125 per unused day. According to the agreement, there are also early retirement incentives and supplemental positions added. "(The) addition of a requirement that teachers who become eligible and inform the superintendent on or before Sept. 15 of the final year of the teacher's contract that they are eligible for continuing (their) contract shall be eligible for consideration in May of that school year," the release stated. "Clarification that failure to provide such written notification on or before Sept. 15 would result in a deferral of continuing contract consideration by one year, with the employee instead receiving a limited contract." The District had met with MEA bargaining teams six times, including twice with a federal mediator. "After many hours of bargaining in good faith and compromises by both sides, the bargaining teams reached a Tentative Agreement ("TA") on June 26, 2023, which was signed by representatives for both the Board and MEA bargaining teams," the release said. "After the parties signed the tentative agreement, it is the Board's understanding that the membership of the MEA voted to not ratify the TA. Due to the fact that union ratification meetings are private, the Board does not know what occurred during the ratification meeting, what the MEA members were told about the TA, or why they voted it down." According to the Board of Education's research through public records, it was stated Mohawk Local School is No. 1 for base salary out of 12 local schools and Mohawk's top end of the pay scale, "cash in your pocket," is ranked No. 6. Mohawk also has the lowest insurance premium contributions for employees of any local school, according to the District. "This current Tentative Agreement is the most lucrative package for the teachers in over 15 years," the District stated in the release. "During negotiations we should not publicly comment or it could be deemed an unfair labor practice. However, under Ohio law a tentative agreement is a public record, available to anyone who requests a copy." The Tentative Agreement is located on the Mohawk app and on the Mohawk website on the home page and the Board of Education page, https://www.mohawk.k12.oh.us/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=6IG03IY&dasi=3PY0. "We ask that community members encourage the board to reconvene negotiations with the MEA," Sivillo said. "Additionally, we would like to give a huge thanks to the community for their generous support." The next Board of Education meets on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. where more information will be gathered.