High school readies for negotiations

Fallbrook Union High School District confirmed on Monday that they have appointed new Director of Human Resources, Michael Millerick, as chief negotiator for teacher contract negotiations expected to begin in April.

“It is my belief that Michael’s expertise in this area will bring a whole new climate to the table,” said District Superintendent Tom Anthony. “I am very optimistic about the negotiation process this year.”

Anthony’s trust appears to be well placed. When Millerick assumed the newly created Human Resources position, he brought 30 years of education experience to the district, 18 years of that as Senior Administrator of Human Resources for the Reno School District that serves a staggering 7,000 employees.

“In my role as chief negotiator, I am going to do everything I can to keep the stress down,” Millerick said. “I will take time to understand their position and present their views to the board. I am going to try and bring an objective, open-minded attitude to negotiations.”

At times in the past, contract negotiations at Fallbrook High School have been fraught with tension and high emotions underscored by teachers marching with signs and passing out flyers for parents, community members and students to read.

“I don’t want to suffer like some of my colleagues here have in the past,” Millerick said. “I have dealt with a lot of conflict in the past. I am not anticipating that here. I feel we will have a good dialog.”

The 3-year contract that approximately 150 teachers in the Fallbrook Union High School District work under is due to expire June 30, 2005.

Millerick said the teacher’s union is expected to submit a proposal in regards to their new contract by the April 1 deadline.

“Once we receive their proposal, it will take us two to four weeks to respond,” Millerick said. “Right now we have no idea what to expect, except that they will want a salary increase and more benefits.”

Millerick will be joined on the District’s bargaining team by Chester Gannett, asst. superintendent of Business Services, FUHS Principal Ruth Hellams, and others at his discretion, depending on the subject matter under discussion. He said he expects the teacher’s union to be represented by Tim Oder, Tim Hauck, Jeff Ropes and Bill Regal.

The current average teacher’s salary in the Fallbrook Union High School District is $58,382. In addition, the District pays $8,640 for their benefits package. (Each teacher contributes $727.30 per year of their own funds toward their benefits.) Therefore, the average teacher has a salary and benefits package of $67,022 before negotiations. In addition to any salary raise negotiated in their contract, teachers also have the opportunity to receive ‘Step in Column’ raises (potentially 1.5%) every year for the first eleven years they work in the district and then every three years following that, depending on their own educational accomplishments.

“Personally, I see a good culture among the teachers here,” Millerick said. “I don’t want to just argue. I want to understand what the facts are, what [teachers] needs are and what each party really needs to come together.”