The Lapeer Community Schools and the Lapeer Education Association have reached an agreement on a one-year contract that will run though the 2011-2012 school year.
Teachers ratified the contract and the School Board voted to approve the contract on May 26.
Key provisions of the agreement include working condition changes and wage and benefit concessions by the teachers that are expected to save the District in excess of $4 million in the coming school year.
“In light of the state revenue cuts that the District is facing, both the District and its teachers worked together to address the cost-cutting that is necessary and to minimize the effects in the classroom,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson. “It was truly a collaborative effort.”
The new contract carves out a structural change that reduces the number of teaching positions in the District by more than 30 and increases the amount teachers pay toward their health care premiums. The one-year contract also includes a wage freeze.
Despite the commitment by the teachers to save the District $4 million a year, the Board still needs to reduce spending by another $3 million to $4 million to balance the District’s budget for the 2011-12 school year.
