New Salary Structure Almost Set for Osseo School District Management

In a shift from typical staff contracts in education, management in the has agreed to receive annual salary increases based on performance instead of seniority.

For 52 Osseo School District employees in leadership positions, the new salary structure means wage increases will eventually be based on performance instead of the standard “steps” and “lanes” for education and experience.

However, no one knows when the new change will happen. The 2011-13 contract between the Osseo School District and its management personnel doesn’t have an effective date, according to Assistant Superintendent Rich Melvin.

The missing effective date of the new structure in the current contract was reason enough for School Board Chairperson Dean Henke to vote against the contract during the Nov. 1 School Board meeting.

“We’re getting really close. … This is moving in the right direction. I really wish we had a firm date,” Henke said. “I will be withholding my support until we have an implementation date.”

No effective date for the new salary structure is set “because there are a number of important details that need to be finalized first,” District 279 Director of Labor Relations Steve Barrett said in an email to Patch. “Until these details are finalized, the current salary structure stays in effect. We plan to begin these discussions soon and hopefully finalize during the current school year.”

Osseo School District School Board Member Teresa Lunt praised the upcoming salary structure change, stating it was “key” in her support of the contract.

“This type of salary structure is very new to the education world,” Lunt said. “And I’m grateful the parties are willing to move forward with such a progressive system.”

The Osseo School District School Board approved the new agreement in a 5-1 vote at the Nov. 1 School Board meeting, with Henke voting against the agreement.

The District 279 management personnel agreement, according to a memo provided to the school board, also includes:

• A one-time payment of $500 in 2011-12 and a one-time payment of $300 in 2012-13 if an employee does not receive an experience (step) increase. Sixteen employees will receive this money the first year and 23 employees will receive the funds the second year, Barrett said.

• New contract language to allow telecommuting, when “it is in the best district of the district.”

• Employees will accrue vacation monthly instead of receiving an annual allotment of vacation time on the employee’s anniversary date.

The approved contract, with salary and benefits, is expected to cost the district about $170,000 over the next two years.