2012-13 Employment Settlements Reached for Agency Employee Groups

We are pleased to announce that the Heartland AEA Board of Directors has approved terms and conditions of employment for the Heartland Education Association (HEA), Classified Non-Union and Certified Non-Union employment groups for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. All package increases include the health insurance rate increase as well as the IPERS increase. The Agency’s health insurance rate will increase an average of 11.26% for the next fiscal year, and the IPERS employer contribution rate will increase from 8.07% to 8.67% for next year. Below is a summary of key points for each employment group.

Heartland Education Association – Certified Union
The settlement is a general fund package of 3.7% and a total package of 3.742% (compensation including Teacher Salary Supplement (TSS) plus benefits). A step 2 was added to the salary schedule across all lanes. All incoming employees with less than three years experience will be placed on step 2 of the salary schedule. Current employees will remain on step and receive a flat fixed dollar increase based on number of contract days worked.

Highlights of changes include Article 18 (H) Distribution of Teacher Salary Supplement moneys as described below.

In the 2011-12 contract year, each eligible employee represented by the Heartland Education Association received moneys based on the 2010-11 schedule. Each eligible employee received a step advancement on the schedule, and staff members on longevity for one year or more received $327. Payment was included in regular paychecks.

For the 2012-13 contract year, contingent upon receiving TSS, each eligible employee represented by the Heartland Education Association will receive moneys based on the 2011-12 schedule as described above, excluding the $327 longevity stipend. In addition, each cell on the 192-day TSS schedule is increased by $286.50, each cell on the 210-day TSS schedule is increased by $313.36 and each cell on the 225-day TSS schedule is increased by $335.74. The resulting 2012-13 TSS salary schedule utilizes all funds estimated to be available less the benefits estimated on those salaries.

Contracts are expected to be mailed no later than the first week of May. To learn more about these changes, please refer to the 2012-13 HEA Negotiated Agreement soon to be posted on the Intranet under Human Resources.

Certified Non-Union
A total package increase was approved at 3.25% plus adjustments to reduce the compensation gap between regional directors. This group includes staff such as regional directors and other certified leadership positions within the Agency. Contracts are expected to be mailed within a week.

Classified Non-Union
A total package increase was approved at 3.769%. Highlights of changes for this group include a new salary banding structure, which was a result of a years-long study using outside data sources of salaries based on job descriptions and functions within this group. Employment notices are expected to be mailed within a week.

We hope to be able to provide you with similar information for the Teamster’s settlement within the next few weeks.

If you have any questions about this information, please contact Laura Gillon, Executive Director of Human Resources, at lgillon@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14416.