MSBSD educators, employees turn out to school board meeting as contract negotiations continue

During the latest Matanuska Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) School Board meeting, there was a notable presence of red shirts representing members of the Mat-Su Education Association (MSEA) and the Classified Employees Association (CEA) who have been working without a contract since June of 2022.

Both sides have been negotiations for over a year on a successor agreement, but remain unable to agree on several sticking points including wages, health insurance, and retirement.

“The contract negotiations have made it clear that the district doesn’t value its employees. The district has made it clear that it doesn’t value our lives, especially when we are forced to choose whether to keep our lights on versus life-saving healthcare,” said Colony Middle School teacher Amanda Schultheis.

Currently, the MSBSD proposal includes a 3-year salary schedule increases of 2%, which would be retroactive to July 1, 2022, when the contract expired. In addition to step increases for eligible employees of between 2% and 4% there is also an additional experience step for teachers with seniority.

The MSBSD contract proposal would also reduce employee health insurance premiums for FY 24 by as much as $11,800, and guarantees no increase to employee health insurance premiums in FY 2025, as well as provides $8,500 in health savings account contributions for eligible employees.

“We are closing the year with interrogatives,” said teacher Kathleen Yerbich, who said that she, along with her fellow teachers, will be heading into the summer break with questions about whether they will have a contract with fair wages and affordable health care.

“We are in an uphill battle where we are being asked to do more without a contract. You know that we will do our jobs…because seeing student success is what we want.”

Yerbich went on to say that she continues to teach and remains in the fight for better contracts, especially for younger teachers because “otherwise, there will be a revolving door of teachers in the Mat-Su.”

The MSEA and the Mat-Su CEA sent out a statement earlier stating: “the MSBSD has been unwilling to settle a contract unless both unions give up their current health insurance provider and move to a district chosen insurer. MSEA and CEA are united in their commitment to improve the quality of education in the Valley, attract and retain excellent educators, and support students in their academic lives.”

Rick Morgan, the President of the CEA, spoke at the MSBSD school board meeting, telling members that the proposed health insurance plans come with high premiums and deductibles that could bankrupt families, and worries that the salaries paid to educators in the Mat-Su need to be adjusted.

“They can make better money at Wal-Mart or McDonalds, and they are leaving. Educators are leaving the valley, and what is the cost to the students?”

The school board meeting ended with members voting to extend the meeting so they could continue in Executive Session for continued negotiations.

The next MSBSD School Board meeting will be held May 24 at the MSBSD Administration Building in Palmer.