Utica Teacher Contract: Detailed Analysis

April 29, 2010

The following is a detailed analysis of the current Utica Community Schools contract that covers
teachers as well as a few other employee groups. The district employs about 1,640 teachers and
enrolls 29,200 students. Of its $260 million operating budget, about 70 percent goes toward
paying employees working under this contract.

Salary Schedule

 Base salaries are determined strictly by "steps," which use a matrix of years experience
and graduate credit hours and degrees.
 There of 11 "steps" on the schedule, meaning teachers get automatic pay raises of
between 5 and 8 percent for their first 11 years in the district, except for steps 3 and 11
with yield about a 13 percent pay increase.
 In addition to step increases, the entire salary schedule increases by 1.5 percent each year
so every teacher gets at least a 1.5 percent raise automatically.
 86 percent of teachers have graduate degrees and 75 percent have more than 5 years
experience, meaning the vast majority of teachers' base salary is between $63,224 and
$88,853.
 The Michigan Department of Education reported the average teacher salary in Utica in
2007-08 was $75,420.

Fringe Benefits

 District pays $15,034 annually for teacher health insurance family premiums.
 Teachers contribute nothing to the cost of the premium, unless they "buy-up" to a higher
priced health insurance plan.
 The average family premium plan in Michigan costs $11,300, with employees
contributing 22 percent of those costs.
 Health insurance plans:
 MESSA Super Care I ($19,181 annual premium): $100/$200 deductible
 MESSA Choices II ($15,034 annual premium): $200/$400 deductible, $10/$20 Rx and
$5 office visit co-pay.
 The district also provides at no cost to teachers a $40,000 life insurance policy, long-term
disability, dental and vision insurance.
 Teachers electing not to enroll in either of the offered medical insurance plan get $1,500
annually, $50,000 life insurance policy and dental insurance.

Pension and Retirement Benefits

  Every teacher participates in the state-run Michigan Public School Employee Retirement
System, a defined-benefit lifetime pension system
 Pension calculation: highest three-year average compensation X 1.5 percent X years of
service
 Retirement eligibility: 30 years of service at age 46 or 15 years of service at age 55
 Teacher contribution: 5.4 percent of salary
 After 55, subsidized medical, dental and vision insurance for life (employees never
contribute more than 18 percent of premiums)
 Annual pension based on 30 years experience in UCS with base salary of $88,853 (final
M.A. step): $39,983.85
 Accumulated sick leave days fetch $40 per day upon retirement
 Teachers are paid $500 if they announce their retirement by April 1.
 The district will pay teachers the value of one month's health insurance premium if they
enroll in a different health insurance plan immediately after retiring.

Bonus Pay for Additional Duties or Certification

 Union president: full release time from classroom duties

 Pay for number of students over class size limit (26-31 depending on grade)
o 1-2 students over: $8 per kid per day
o 3-9 students over: $9.50 per kid per day
o 10 or more students over: $10.50 per kid per day
 Any additional regular school duties beyond contractual work day: $22/hr
 Any additional regular school duties beyond contractual work year: 3 percent of base
salary per week ($2,262 per week based on average teacher salary)
 All civic functions: $23/hr
 Secondary teachers may earn an additional 1/6th of their salary by foregoing a prep
period and teaching one extra course.
 17 building chairpersons:
o Secondary: 4 percent of salary ($3,016 based on average salary)
o Elementary: 2.75 percent of salary ($2,074 based on average salary)
 19 systemwide chairpersons: five release days and 4 percent of salary ($3,016 based on
average salary)
 Curriculum Leadership Council (10 teachers appointed by union): two days release time
and $400
 Cafeteria supervision: 40 minutes flex time (arrive late or leave early) or $11 per day
 Subbing during preparation period: $22 per period
 "Special services:" $425
 Travel in personal vehicle between schools: I.R.S. mileage rate

Leave/Sick Time

 11 sick leave days per year on average that may be used for:
o Personal illness
o Family illness
o Bereavement and funerals (no more than 6 days per year)
 o Personal days (max of 2-6 per year)
o Business day (1 per year)
o Jury duty
 Accumulated sick leave days earn teachers additional personal days:
o 40 sick leave days = 3 personal days
o 65 sick leave days = 4 personal days
o 100 sick leave days = 5 personal days
o 150 sick leave days = 6 personal days
 Sabbaticals: Half salary for one full year
 100 days of leave may be used by the union for union business
 Teachers will have 5 days of professional development each year
 Uncompensated leave time (employees return to position after leave time):
o Military duty (as federal law prescribes)
o Physical/mental incapacity (with doctor's recommendation)
o Child care (1 year max)
o "Exploring the possibility of making a 'career change'" (1 year max)
o Public office (1 year max)
 Union negotiators are allowed release time during negotiations

Work Schedule/Environment

 184 contractual work days (may skip last day if grades are completed)
 Work day schedule:
o Elementary: 7 hours, 5 minutes
o Secondary: 7 hours, 20 minutes
 Average work hours per year: 1,326
 U.S. average hours per work year: 1,792
 Duty-free lunch period:
o Elementary: 40 minutes
o Secondary: 30 minutes
 Preparation periods:
o Elementary: 230 minutes per week
o Secondary: 1 full class period per day
 Faculty meetings: no more than 2 per month
 Evening functions: no more than 4 per year
 Teachers may not be required to move desks, chairs or filing cabinets.

Extra Curricular Activities Compensation

 High school athletics (based on experience):

o Athletic director: $7,750-$11,864
o Football and basketball:
o
 Head coach: $5,167-$7,909
 Assistants: $3,875-$5,932
 Baseball, swimming, track, softball, volleyball, competitive cheerleading, wrestling and
soccer:
o Head coach: $4,306-$6,591
o Assistants: $2,538-$4,614
 Cross country, golf, tennis, diving:
o Head coach: $3,014-$4,614
o Assistants: $2,153-$3,295
 Cheerleading (sideline):
o Head coach: $2,583-$3,954
o Assistant: $1,722-$2,636

 9th grade athletics (based on experience):

o Football and basketball:
o
 Head coach: $3,660-$5,602
 Assistants: $2,583-$3,954
 Baseball, track, softball, volleyball, soccer and competitive cheer:
o Head coach: $3,014-$4,614
 Cheerleading (sideline):
o Head coach: $1,722-$2,636

 Junior high (7th/8th grades) athletics (based on experience):

o Athletic director: $3,875-$5,932
o Football and basketball:
 Head coach: $3,229-$4,943
 Assistants: $2,583-$3,954
 Track and volleyball:
o Head coach: $2,583-$3,954
o Assistants: $2,153-$3,295
 Competitive cheer:
o Head coach: $2,153-$3,295
 Cheerleading (sideline)
o Head coach: $861-$1,318

 High school extracurricular (based on experience):

o Marching band director: $4,306-$6,591
o Instrumental music: $4,306-$6,591
o Debate: $3,121-$4,778
o Yearbook: $2,153-$3,295
o Newspaper: $2,153-$3,295
o Spring musical director: $1,830-$2,801
o All school play director: $1,722-$2,636
o Forensic: $1,722-$2,636
o NCA/SIT chair: $1,722-$2,636
 o Summer band director: $1,291-$1,977
o Choral/Vocal ensemble: $1,291-$1,977
o Student council: $1,291-$1,977
o Quiz bowl: $1,184-$1,812
o Choral director: $968-$1,483
o All school play technical director: $861-$1,318
o Spring musical technical director: $861-$1,318
o Science Olympiad: $753-$1,153
o Social Studies Olympiad: $753-$1,153
o Debate/Forensic assistant: $645-$988
o National Honor Society: $645-$988
o VICA: $645-$988
o DECA: $645-$988
o Key Club: $645-$988

 Junior high extracurricular (based on experience):

o Instrumental music director: $1,937-$2,966
o NCA/SIT chair: $1,722-$2,636
o Student council: $1,291-$1,977
o Play director: $861-$1,318
o Forensics: $861-$1,318
o Science Olympiad: $753-$1,153
o Social Studies Olympiad: $753-$1,153
o Yearbook/Newspaper: $645-$988
o Destination Imagination: $645-$988
o National Honor Society: $430-$659

 NCA/SIT chair: $1,722-$2,636

 Academically gifted and talented: $1,291-$1,977
 Science Olympiad: $753-$1,153
 Social Studies Olympiad: $753-$1,153
 Student Council: $645-$988
 Destination Imagination: $645-$988
 Safety Patrol: $538-$823
 Service Squad: $538-$823