Medina reaches contract agreements with teachers, superintendent

MEDINA – The Board of Education has reached a two-year contract with the Medina Teachers’ Association, an agreement that gives teachers an average of 1.5 percent annual raises and also is projected to save the district $770,000 in health insurance costs over the two years.

The board on Monday also approved a five-year contract with Jeff Evoy, the district’s superintendent of schools. Evoy started as the district’s top administrator in Nov. 1, 2011. He signed a contract then for three years and seven months.

The new five-year deal is effective the beginning of the current 2013-14 school year.

“We talked about long-term and we wanted consistency,” Evoy said today. “I want to retire here.”

Evoy’s contract calls for modest salary increases of 2 percent each of the first two years, then 1.5 percent, 0.68 percent and 0.67 percent the final year. His pay will go from $142,800 this school year and end at $149,841 in 2017-18.

The contract with teachers will only be for two years because both the Board of Education and the union want to see the impact of Obamacare on the district’s health insurance costs, Evoy said.

He praised the teachers for stepping up to help with the district’s health insurance costs. The union agreed to a less costly point of service plan, and all teachers will now pay towards a share of the premiums.

Teachers also agreed to two additional work days during the 2013-14 school year and three more work days during the 2014-15 school year. These days may be used for professional development and increased instructional time for students.

“I would very much like to thank the leadership of the Teachers’ Association for the professional approach to these talks and to the recognition that these are very different and difficult financial times,” Evoy said. “This agreement will allow the district to move forward in a financially responsible manner, rewarding unit members for their efforts while keeping students and student learning as its top priority.”

Joe Byrne, the union president, said the contract will keep the district focused on educating Medina students.

“Through the negotiations process, our number one priority was to maintain present – and ensure future – programs for our students,” he said.