Teachers Association, school board reach tentative contract agreement

By Sue Loughlin
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE August 15, 2008 10:49 pm

— For the 11th year in a row, the Vigo County Teachers Association and Vigo County School Board have reached a tentative contract settlement before the start of school.
The one-year settlement includes both economic and language items, said Chuck Rubright, chief negotiator for the School Board.
The teachers association will release details of the tentative contract after Monday’s back-to-school Educators Appreciation Rally at Terre Haute North Vigo High School. Monday is the first day of school for teachers, and students go back on Tuesday.
Mark Lee, teachers association president, could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.
Dan Tanoos, who is in his 11th year as superintendent, said he’s pleased the school district is able to offer teachers a compensation package “of which we can all be proud.”
He described it as a “very fair settlement” and believes it will be close to or above the state average for teacher contract settlements.
Tanoos said the association pushes hard to get the best settlement it can for teachers, but it also tries to do what is best for the school district.
Rubright said that several of those involved with negotiations have worked together for many years. “We know each other and trust each other,” he said. “Did we have to work hard on some issues? Yes, but it was a collaborative process.”
Last year, teachers received a 3 percent salary increase.
Both teachers and the School Board still must approve the contract.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.