Lakewood Teachers, Schools Agree To 2-Year Contract Extension

LAKEWOOD, OH - The Lakewood Teachers Association and Lakewood Board of Education agreed to a 2-year contract extension on March 6. The extension includes a 2.5 percent salary increase for teachers in the 2018-2019 school year and a similar increase is possible for the 2019-2020 school year. The contract extension expires July 31, 2020.

The state budget could impact the planned raise for teachers in 2019-2020. If the district loses funding of $200,000 or more, the salary increase will not go into effect. The biennial state budget must be approved by July 1, 2017.

However, the state budget has proven to be extremely controversial for teachers across the state. One of the clauses in Governor John Kasich's state budget proposal includes a requirement for teachers to get "externships," an internship for teachers to get better acquainted with local business needs. To fulfill their license renewal process, teachers would have to get a certain number of externship hours.

If the proposed budget, with externships and cuts goes through, and the district loses $200,000 or more in funding, the contract agreement will expire early, on July 31, 2019. Additionally, if the contract expires early, the two sides are obligated to meet on Sept. 1, 2017.

“This extension is an example of how our Board of Education values and appreciates our teaching staff,” said Superintendent Jeff Patterson in an emailed statement.

The contract extension doesn't just include salary increases. There is also information on a new health care option, which includes a higher deductible plan. Employee contributions for all health care options remains at 15 percent.

The Lakewood School District's treasurer, Kent Zeman, told the Board of Education that the planned salary increases fall within the district's forecast parameters and do not harm the district's fiscal soundness.

Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch