Detailed Analysis of Traverse City's Teacher Contract

The following is a detailed analysis of the current Traverse City Area Public Schools union contract that covers teachers as well as a few other employee groups. The district employs about 585 teachers and enrolls 10,200 students. Of its $88 million operating budget, about 67 percent goes toward paying employees working under this contract.

Table of Contents:
Salary Schedule
Fringe Benefits
Pension and Retirement Benefits
Bonus Pay for Additional Duties or Certification
Leave/Sick Time
Work Schedule/Environment
Extra Curricular Activities Compensation

Salary Schedule

Base salaries are determined strictly by "steps," which use a matrix of years experience and graduate credit hours and degrees.
There are 13 "steps" on the schedule, meaning teachers get automatic 3 to 9 percent pay raises for their first 12 years in the district.
In addition to step increases, the entire salary schedule increases by 2 percent each year.
72 percent of teachers have graduate degrees and 75 percent have more than 5 years experience, meaning the vast majority of teachers' base salary is between $45,355 and $67,973.
The Michigan Department of Education reported the average teacher salary in Traverse City in 2008-09 was $56,742.
Teachers also get step increases between 1 and 3 percent after their 14th, 17th, 19th, and 20th years in the district.

Fringe Benefits

The district's current health insurance plan for teachers cost $14,631 per teacher.
Teachers contribute $87.50 per month to the cost of this premium, or about 7 percent.
The average family premium for a health plan in Michigan cost $11,300 in 2009, with employees contributing 22 percent ($2,500) of those costs.
This plan includes no annual deductibles or office co-pays and a $5/$10 RX plan.
Each teacher who does not enroll in a medical insurance plan gets $217 per month.
The district also provides at no cost to teachers dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance.

Pension and Retirement Benefits

Every teacher participates in the state-run Michigan Public School Employee Retirement System, a defined-benefit lifetime pension system
Pension calculation: highest 3-year average compensation X 1.5 percent X years of service
Retirement eligibility: 30 years of service at age 46 or 15 years of service at age 55
Teacher contribution: 5.4 percent of salary
After 55, subsidized medical, dental and vision insurance for life (employees never contribute more than 18 percent of premiums)
Annual pension based on 30 years experience in Traverse City with base salary of $67,973 (final M.A. step): $30,587.85 (for most employees, this amount increases by 3 percent every year)
Teachers are also paid one-half of their daily rate for each accumulated sick day they have upon retiring. This figure cannot exceed $5,500.

Bonus Pay for Additional Duties or Certification

One-half of tuition costs for continuing education credits are paid by district.
Teachers are paid $22/hr for attending "professional learning community meetings," that are 90-minute sessions occurring 6 times per year.
Attendance incentives are paid out based on how few leave days teachers use:
- 0 = $300
- 1 = $200
- 2 = $150
- 3 = $100
Additional class assignments pay one-fourteenth of a teacher's salary per semester ($4,053 based on average teacher salary)
Holders of vocational certificates get $300 extra per year
Teachers are reimbursed for all travel between buildings and to conferences and workshops
Mentor teacher for students: $1,200
Core Content Facilitators: $3,500
Special Education Facilitators: $3,500
Secondary Department Facilitators: $1,500
Elementary Content Leaders: $2,000
Elementary Special Education Facilitators: $2,000
Elementary Music Facilitators: $2,000
Elementary Department Facilitators: $1,750
Secondary Core Content Curriculum, Assessment and Instructional Leaders: $2,000
Elementary coaches are paid $20 for travel to away sporting events.
Mentor Teacher (for teachers): $1,000
Curriculum work:
- $22/hr with students
- $17/hr without students
Summer school compensation:
- $20/hr or one-half of tuition paid by students
Recess duty: $10/hr

Leave/Sick Time

Union president gets between two-fifths and full release time from teaching duties to conduct union business without loss of salary or benefits.
Association business: Union gets 35 days of release time for teachers to conduct union business. (District pays substitution costs for 3 of these days)
Personal leave: 2 days
Sick leave allowance: 10 days
- May accumulate to a maximum of 150 days
Family bereavement: 8 days
Sabbatical leave: one-half salary for one year
Unpaid leave:
- Military service (no maximum time period)
- Child care (one year)
- Foreign exchange program (one year)
- Peace Corps (one year)
- Teacher Corps (one year)
- Job Corps (one year)
- Full-time study at university (one year)
- "Cultural, travel or work program related to the teacher's professional responsibilities" (one year)
- "Explore a possible career change" (one year)

Work Schedule/Environment

Contractual year: 186 days
- 182 student instruction days
- 2 teacher work days
- 2 professional development days
Work day:
- Elementary: 6 hours, 48 minutes
- Secondary: 6 hours, 47 minutes
Total work year: 1,265 hours
National average for all occupations: 1,792 hours
No afterschool meetings may be held on Mondays or Fridays.
Class size overages:
- A classroom aid is assigned to any class over the class size limit (25-33, depending on the grade level)
Preparation time:
- Elementary: 210 minutes per week
- Secondary: 1 regular class period per day
Duty-free lunch: 40 minutes

Extra Curricular Activities Compensation


Position	Min	Max
High School Sports
Baseball/Softball Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Baseball/Softball Varsity Asst Coach	$2,705.04	$3,215.76
Baseball/Softball 9th Grade Head Coach	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Baseball/Softball 9th Grade Asst Coach	$1,690.65	$2,009.85
Basketball Varsity Head Coach	$5,410.08	$6,431.52
Basketball Varsity Asst Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Basketball 9th Grade Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Basketball 9th Grade Asst Coach	$2,705.04	$3,215.76
Beach Volleyball (Girls) Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Competitive Cheerleading Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Competitive Cheerleading Varsity Asst Coach	$2,366.91	$2,813.79
Sideline Cheerleading Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Cheerleading 9th Grade Head Coach	$2,366.91	$2,813.79
Cross Country Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Cross Country Varsity Asst Coach	$2,366.91	$2,813.79
Cross-Country Skiing (CO-ED) Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Cross-Country Skiing (CO-ED) Varsity Asst Coach	$2,705.04	$3,215.76
Downhill Skiing (CO-ED) Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Downhill Skiing (CO-ED) Varsity Asst Coach	$2,705.04	$3,215.76
Football Varsity Head Coach	$5,410.08	$6,431.52
Football Varsity Asst Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Football JV Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Football JV Asst Coach	$2,874.11	$3,416.75
Football 9th Grade Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Football 9th Grade Asst Coach	$2,705.04	$3,215.76
Football Equipment Manager	$1,690.65	$2,009.85
Golf Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Golf Varsity Asst Coach	$2,366.91	$2,813.79
Gymnastics (Girls) Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Hockey Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Hockey Varsity Asst Coach	$2,705.04	$3,215.76
Mentor Teacher for Students	$1,200.00	$1,200.00
Soccer Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Soccer Varsity Asst Coach	$2,705.04	$3,215.76
Soccer 9th Grade Head Coach	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Swimming Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Swimming Varsity Diving Coach	$2,366.91	$2,813.79
Swimming Varsity Asst Coach	$2,366.91	$2,813.79
Tennis Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Tennis Varsity Asst Coach	$2,366.91	$2,813.79
Tennis 9th Grade Head Coach	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Track Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Track Varsity Asst Coach	$2,705.04	$3,215.76
Trainer (All Sports)	$5,071.95	$6,029.55
Volleyball (Girls) Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Volleyball (Girls) Varsity Asst Coach	$2,705.04	$3,215.76
Volleyball (Girls) 9th Grade Head Coach	$2,366.91	$2,813.79
Volleyball (Girls) 9th Grade Asst Coach	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Wrestling Varsity Head Coach	$3,381.30	$4,019.70
Wrestling Varsity Asst Coach	$2,705.04	$3,215.76
Pep Club Advisor	$2,028.78	$2,411.82

High School Extracurricular
Yearbook Advisor	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Newspaper Advisor	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Video Club Advisor	$1,352.52	$1,607.88
Challenger Advisor	$676.26	$803.94
National Honor Society Advisor	$676.26	$803.94
S.I.U. Advisor	$676.26	$803.94
Thespians Advisor	$676.26	$803.94
Key Club Advisor	$676.26	$803.94
Varsity Club Advisor	$676.26	$803.94
Class Advisor Freshman	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Class Advisor Sophomore	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Class Advisor Junior	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Class Advisor Senior	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Student Senate Advisor	$1,690.65	$2,009.85
Drama and Musical Director	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Ticket Manager	$3,043.17	$3,617.73
Debate Head Coach	$2,705.04	$3,215.76
Debate Asst Coach	$1,690.65	$2,009.85
Forensics Coach	$1,352.52	$1,607.88
Director of Vocal Music	$4,057.56	$4,823.64
Director of Bands	$5,071.95	$6,029.55
Assistant Director of Bands	$2,705.04	$3,215.76
Orchestra Director	$2,705.04	$3,215.76
Music Instructor with 1 Extra Music Activity	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Music Director of Annual Musical	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Auditorium Technical Advisor	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Odyssey of the Mind Coach	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Student Court Advisor	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Model United Nations Advisor	$1,352.52	$1,607.88
Math Competition Coordinator	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Quiz Bowl Coordinator	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Technology Club Advisor	$1,014.39	$1,205.91

Middle School Sports
Basketball 8th Grade Head Coach	$2,366.91	$2,813.79
Basketball 8th Grade Asst Coach	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Basketball 7th Grade Head Coach	$2,366.91	$2,813.79
Basketball 7th Grade Asst Coach	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Cross Country (CO-ED) 7th/8th Grade Head Coach	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Football 8th Grade Head Coach	$2,366.91	$2,813.79
Football 8th Grade Asst Coach	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Football 7th Grade Head Coach	$2,366.91	$2,813.79
Football 7th Grade Asst Coach	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Golf Coach	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Track (CO-ED) 7th/8th Grade Head Coach	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Track (CO-ED) 7th/8th Grade Asst Coach	$1,690.65	$2,009.85
Trainer (All Sports)	$3,043.17	$3,617.73
Volleyball (Girls) 8th Grade Head Coach	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Volleyball (Girls) 8th Grade Asst Coach	$1,690.65	$2,009.85
Volleyball (Girls) 7th Grade Head Coach	$2,028.78	$2,411.82
Volleyball (Girls) 7th Grade Asst Coach	$1,690.65	$2,009.85
Wrestling 7th/8th Grade Head Coach	$2,366.91	$2,813.79
Wrestling 7th/8th Grade Asst Coach	$1,690.65	$2,009.85

Middle School Extracurricular
Newspaper	$1,690.65	$2,009.85
Vocal Director	$2,705.04	$3,215.76
Assistant Vocal Director	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Band Director	$3,043.17	$3,617.73
Assistant Band Director	$1,352.52	$1,607.88
Music Instructor with 1 Extra Music Activity	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Orchestra Director	$1,690.65	$2,009.85
Yearbook Advisor	$1,690.65	$2,009.85
Odyssey of the Mind Coach	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Math Competition Coach	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Math Club Advisor	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
National Honor Society Advisor	$676.26	$803.94
Student Council Advisor 8th Grade	$676.26	$803.94
Student Council Advisor 7th Grade	$676.26	$803.94
Technology Club Advisor	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Teens Against Drugs Club Advisor	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Theater Arts Director	$1,352.52	$1,607.88

Elementary School Sports
Basketball	$1,352.52	$1,607.88
Football	$1,352.52	$1,607.88
Gymnastics	$1,352.52	$1,607.88
Track	$1,352.52	$1,607.88
Volleyball	$1,352.52	$1,607.88
Choir	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
All City Orchestra	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
All City Assistant Orchestra Director	$676.26	$803.94
All City Band	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Asst All City Band	$1,014.39	$1,205.91

Elementary School Extracurricular
Odyssey of the Mind Coach	$1,014.39	$1,205.91
Gifted/Talented Contact	$338.13	$401.97
Computer Contact	$338.13	$401.97
Building Instructional Unit Leader	$676.26	$803.94