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HILLSBOROUGH: School contract averts privatization of 270 jobs

It’s still an option if budget levy is rejected

By Andrew Corselli, Staff Writer
   The Hillsborough Education Association and the Board of Education reached a contract agreement that relies on health care concessions to avoid privatization of about one-fourth of school non-teaching employees.
   Late last month the board unveiled a proposal to privatize about 270 non-teaching jobs in the district in an effort to save $2.2 million in the proposed $109.6 million 2011-12 school budget. The jobs would have been put up to bid for companies that would compete for the work and possibly offer the employees, including bus drivers, custodians and teacher aides, their jobs back at lower wages.
   The two sides met in what both sides described as a “very collaborative process” in three sessions, with the two final coming in the last two weeks. The meetings culminated in a 10-hour session on Sunday at the municipal building.
   ”We’re relieved we were able to come up with something to save the jobs of 270 people,” said Barbara Parker, HEA president. “It was very important to all of us. We did everything we could to save those jobs.”
   The two-year-and-three-month contract, which the association ratified Monday and the board accepted at its meeting that evening, calls for HEA members to contribute 1.5 percent to pay for health care costs from April 1 through June 30. The pact also changes the district from a private insurance plan with Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield to the state’s benefits plan.
   ”I feel very positive about this agreement and how it’s very sustainable for the school system in terms of budget,” said Board President Steve Paget.
   ”There were several other issues that we came to an agreement on, but, of course, the big thing is health care,” he added.
   During the 2011-12 school year, HEA members will be pay 12 percent of health care premiums while receiving a 1.5 percent salary increase. The following year, members will pay 18 percent of the premiums while getting a two-percent raise.
   Dr. Paget estimated that the 1.5 percent of the members’ salary is about six percent of the premium.
   After the board agreed to ditch the privatization idea, more than 15 residents felt the need to explain why it was such a bad idea in the first place.
   ”I have worked as an instructional assistant in this district for the past 11 years,” said Joan Murphy of Piney Woods Drive. “The primary task of the instructional assistant is to work directly with the pupil. We must know curriculum and be able to assist in projects, class work and tests. We must serve as a key source of information and help for any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of a regular teacher.”
   ”It’s quite a turnout,” said George Graham of Saxson Street, the father of an autistic son who works with an aide. “At the core of it, we’re concerned for the kids. I applaud the board for working with the HEA, I applaud the HEA, but the people I applaud the most are the members of the HEA. It’s going to hit their wallet, but they’re doing it, partially for their job too, but they’re doing it for the kids.”
   Although the idea of privatizing has been put on the shelf, it could still come back into play if the voters do not pass the budget on Wednesday, April 27. Polls are open from 2 to 9 p.m., and the HEA hopes that residents will get out and vote.
   ”Hopefully the community will remain active and not grow complacent,” Ms. Parker said.