Wage and insurance issues that came to impasse between the Mid-Prairie Board of Education and the Mid-Prairie Educational Support Staff Association (MPESSA) will be settled by July 1 through an arbitrator’s decision.

At the June 17 arbitration session, MPESSA outlined its position calling for a 15 cents per hour across the board increase and raises in monthly insurance benefit payments of $210 for full-time, $190 for part-time (30-35 hours) and $105 for part-time (20-30 hours). The part-time raises for the first group are a 100 percent increase, from $95 to $190, and the second part-time group just under 30%, going from $85 to $105.

In addition, MPESSA asked for an annual $700 stipend for those who work at least 20 hours and have no insurance, although it would be counted as part of wage payments.

The total package amounts to a 5.6 percent increase. However, MPESSA representatives stressed that the percentage applies only if all workers are back. With recent board cuts, there is $55,000 that would have been the amount, that was reduced by $43,142, leaving a balance of $11,877, or 1.24 percent.

The board cuts, though, when made, were emphasized as being for one year only…

MPESSA said that their proposal is readily affordable by the district, based on the recent cuts and the fact that there are other funding sources, notable state funding for special education associations and the fact that the food service wages derived from the meal prices for the lunches.

The board’s offer has been 10 cents per hour for secretaries and bus drivers, noting that they are potentially eligible for a 50 cents increase through step movements, and 14 center per hour for all others. The categories represented by MPESSA are teacher associates, bus drivers, custodians, food service workers and secretaries.

The board’s offer for insurance benefits would increase the 35-40 hour workers to full payment for single coverage, and increase the 35-39 hour workers from $84 to $84 (a 4.9 percent increase).

The board also objected to the $700 stipend, a completely new concept.

The board representatives noted that the 15 cent per hour increase for bus drivers would see their wage level “even more out of line.”

Teachers

The session also noted that the Mid-Prairie Education Association and the board recently settled for a 3.24 percent total package increase. Voting, by MPEA members, is expected next week on the settlement that will raise the base salary by slightly less than $400.

In its presentation, MPESSA claimed the district had $270,000 in its unspent balance. However, the board representative said that the unspent balance is 77 percent below average and is half of what it was in 1993-94.

He added that the unspent balance, lowest in the district’s history, is not for settling wages, but to be a one-time dollar expenditure.

The arbitration hearing came after the two had had three impasse sessions.

A decision, which is binding, will be made within two weeks, which is July 1.