Superintendent Savel Rebuts Union's Flier

Negotiations between the Trenton Education Association and became public Monday when Savel responded to a flier that had been passed out to the community over the weekend by members of the TEA.

Savel said he had tried to avoid speaking about the negotiations since November 2010, but could not ignore the flier.

Savel addressed all of the claims made in the flier and began by saying “the TEA has proposed a switch in health insurance to the MEA (Michigan Education Association)-affiliated MESSA (Michigan Education Special Services Association) plan; we do not feel that it would generate the savings that the TEA claims and that the district needs.”

He added that both the administrative team and a third-party benefit consultant have examined the TEA’s health insurance proposal and have concluded that this plan would not generate the savings projected by the TEA.

“And, point of fact, since July 2010 every one of the employee groups in this school district, except the teachers, has made wage concessions and, unlike the teachers, the members of those groups eligible for health insurance, have made concessions in that area as well,” said Trenton Superintendent John Savel.

Mark Hoffman, district director of the TEA, said the MESSA plan still remains the best deal for the district.

"It's $180,000 cheaper than the district's proposed plan, it covers more, and that makes it a no-brainer," Hoffman said. "Why Dr. Savel would deny any of that, and force the district to pay more for less, is beyond me."

In regard to furlough days, Savel said the TEA’s proposal is tied to the remainder of its wage proposal, which calls for no decreases in salary schedule and a 1 percent pay increase for those teachers on the top of the salary schedule effective Jan. 1, 2013.

“We are looking at fixing a very serious problem without applying a bandage,” Savel said.

Hoffman said the district saves money every year they implement furlough days because each day is one day less that teachers get paid.

He added the TEA has offered to take furlough days during holidays, so as not to take away from instruction.

Finally, Savel addressed the idea raised by the TEA that district officials were trying to increase the general fund balance.

Savel said district auditors suggest a fund balance of 10 to 15 percent for all districts, but administrators are not attempting to increase the fund balance at this time.

In 2008, the fund balance was just more than $4 million and at the end of the 2011-12 school year district officials are projecting a fund balance of just $767,773 or just 3.2 percent of the budget, according to Savel.

According to Savel, last week all of the district's proposals as well as the TEA’s, along with the facts backing those proposals, were presented to an independent fact finder appointed by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission.

“We are hopeful that when the fact finder issues his report, that it will assist the parties in arriving at a fair and equitable contract," Savel said.