Ankeny School Board, Education Association Come to Contract Agreement

The Ankeny school district and the Ankeny Education Association agreed on the terms of their collective bargaining for the 2013-2014 school year, according to a release sent by the district.

The decision was made during Monday night’s school board meeting, which will lower the district’s insurance costs by 18.5 percent for the coming year. This will produce a savings of approximately $955,000, the release set, which will then be used to offset the costs of future wage increases or insurance cost hikes.

Due to a decrease in insurance costs, the total negotiated package is approximately a 2.16 percent increase in cost over the current year on a same-staff comparison.

The Iowa legislature approved 2 percent allowable growth for the 2013-14 school year, which for Ankeny converts to a 6.8 percent regular program increase.  If the insurance savings set aside for future years is counted, the package would be a 4.15 percent increase, but according to the agreement, none of the savings will be spent in the 2013-14 year.  

“I think both the settlement and the negotiation process are reflective of the renewed spirit of good will and cooperation between the school board and the faculty,” AEA President Greg Lage said in a statement.  “The settlement also includes language that will allow us to collectively begin to act on a new vision for teacher evaluation.”

Superintendent Bruce Kimpston also said he was pleased with the process.
“These decisions played a major role in this year’s negotiations,” Kimpston said.  “With regard to the total package settlement, our goal is to continue to attract, recruit, and retain the best teachers to work with students in Ankeny schools.”

Ankeny’s starting salary next year will increase to $45,096 compared to $44,045 for the current year. This increase will allow the school district to continue to attract and retain the best teachers for Ankeny students, the release said.