South Lake and Secretaries’ Union Ratify Three-Year Agreement

In one month, South Lake Schools has successfully reached agreements with two of its employee unions: first the teachers and now the secretaries.

At a recent special meeting, the South Lake Board of Education voted 6-0 to ratify a three-year agreement with Local 2457 – AFSCME, Secretarial Chapter, and Council 25 AFSCME. Board Vice President Allan Innes was absent from the meeting.

The new contract is valid through June 30, 2014, and South Lake expects to save approximately $135,189 over the course of the agreement, said Ted VonHiltmayer, director of human resources and transportation.

Highlights of the contract include a total of eight furlough days over the next three years, and a change in health-insurance provider. Also, the secretaries will contribute 10 percent of the cost of all benefits, including health, and they will have higher co-pays for prescriptions.

In addition, personal leave and vacation time was reduced, and one secretarial position was eliminated.

The secretaries’ contract has some similar provisions to the teachers’ new contract, including health-insurance contributions and higher co-pays.

Eileen Hilton, president of the secretaries’ union, said she is pleased to have a ratified agreement.

“Negotiating a contract in any school district in Michigan is extremely difficult with all of the imposed legislation coming out of Lansing,” Hilton said. “We worked together with South Lake Schools’ administration to create a contract which both parties found acceptable, and I am thankful to our board of education for their support and overwhelming approval.”

VonHiltmayer echoed Hilton’s sentiments.

“The district is thankful an agreement was reached with our secretaries that is beneficial to the district financially, but also reflects the secretaries’ continued dedication to South Lake Schools and our commitment to success for every student,” he said.

South Lake officials have been taking major steps to reduce an approximate $3 million deficit in the district’s budget. In late May, the district privatized its maintenance and custodial positions. Also, the recently ratified treachers' contract is expected to save the district approximately $2 million over the next three years.