WCEA working for local teachers
Contrary to a recent Southern Standard editorial, the issue of insurance was not tossed out in the “11th hour” by the Warren County Education Association. WCEA has consistently brought the issue of insurance to the negotiation table throughout at last the past five years, and had broached the subject informally as far back as the 1990s.
WCEA has asked that money be put toward both salary and insurance. It is the school board that has rejected any mention of a proposal to meet the needs of those concerned about the cost of insurance, just as they did three months ago when WCEA first proposed it in negotiations for the 2004-05 school year.
The board has put $194,000 (not $196,000 as reported by the Standard) on the table, despite the fact they currently have $1,694,868 in their undesignated fund balance — funds they could place into the budget for either insurance or salary.
The $194,000 can be used toward both insurance and salary without increasing taxes, without overhauling the entire budget or waiting for next year’s budget, or making teachers wait for some unknown time in the future to finally get help with their insurance costs.
Warren County ranks 135 out of Tennessee’s 136 school systems in the amount of money the local school board contributes toward a percent of total insurance premiums for PPO plans. They rank 72 out of 73 school systems on local supplements to HMO plans, and they rank dead last — 124 out of 124 school systems — for local supplement contributions to POS insurance plans in Tennessee.
Standing up for Warren County’s 309 teachers — 67 of whom are approaching retirement — who support teachers struggling with soaring health insurance premiums is not a “waste” of anyone’s time. WCEA has proudly represented issues that concern Warren County teachers at the negotiation table for many years, and we will continue to do so.
WCEA has requested to meet with the board again Nov. 18. We believe, along with Dr. Hale, that as long as we continue to negotiate in good faith, working together and not “slamming any doors,” we can reach an acceptable agreement. The WCEA looks forward to working with the school board now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Sheila Gann
WCEA President