MARQUETTE, MI-- Dozens of Marquette Area Public Schools teachers packed the library of the high school Monday night to hear Superintendent Bill Saunders apprise the school board on contract negotiations.
Saunders said MAPS has a fiscal responsibility to taxpayers, students, and teachers to spend money as wisely as possible in tough economic times.
“Other than in, I believe that’s 2006/2007, we haven’t seen an increase in the per-pupil foundation allowance even as much as 3 percent,” he said. “So the only other way that we have revenue is through our student count. Back to 2003/2004 we had 3,644 students. Coming up until 2013/2014 we’re down to about 3,100 students.”
Saunders noted between 84 and 87 percent of what the district spends goes toward employee benefits.
Teachers hosted a “Walk-In/Walk-Out” last week to bring attention to their 237th day working without a contract. Many told the board last night that they can’t afford to continue teaching under their present salary.
Nathan Larson is co-president of the Marquette Area Education Association, which represents teachers.
“In the paper last week it was said that we were offered a raise. Everyone knows that the proposed raise will not make up for the hard-cap insurance imposed on us, much less will it make up for the consecutive years teachers have watched their take-home pay decrease,” he said. “When you try to come off as the benevolent leaders of this district, offering to pay us more, knowing that in reality teachers are not going to see a boost in net pay, it seems like you don’t care.”
Several teachers told the board they shouldn’t be the sacrifice MAPS makes to become the destination district it wants to be.
Saunders said he hopes realignment will bring more students to the district.
