Westlake Schools, Teachers Union Reach Agreement after Months of Tension

Additional reporting by Rick Uldricks

WESTLAKE, OH — Westlake Schools have reached a three-year agreement with the Westlake Teachers Association (WTA) for the 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years, wkyc.com reports.

WTA members voted on the agreement July 18 and the Westlake City Board of Education voted to adopt the contract on July 19 at a special meeting.

The agreement comes after months of tension. On May 14, Westlake teachers had rejected the Board of Education's final offer by a vote of 247-12. A federal meditator was brought in to help with a resolution and an agreement between the Board of Education and WTA was reached on July 7.

The teachers will go back to work at the end of the summer on Aug. 18 with classes beginning on Aug. 22.

Kim Bonvissuto, communications coordinator for the Westlake City School District, issued a news release on the matter:

...The agreement includes across-the-board freezes in base salaries for all three years, along with modest step increases for each of the three years for teachers with less than 20 years of experience. There will be a one-time longevity payment provided to teachers above 20 years of experience who are not eligible for the step increases. The increases are possible due to savings stemming from significant health insurance changes, as well as requiring employees’ spouses to take insurance through their own employer without any subsidy from the district.

“Reaching this agreement was an important step for all of us toward focusing on the future," WTA President Patrick McMorrow said in the news release. "The WTA is looking forward to the upcoming school year and educating for excellence.”