By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BLUE ASH - After nearly a year of negotiations, the board of education and teachers in Sycamore Community Schools have settled on a contract.

The Sycamore Education Association (SEA) approved the contract Thursday with 98 percent of those voting in favor. The contract was then ratified by the board Thursday night.

NEW SALARIES

A sample of salaries for Sycamore teachers under the new contract: Beginning teachers: 2002-03: $33,895 2003-04: $35,250 2004-05: $36,660 Teachers with master's degrees and 25 years' experience 2002-03: $77,878 2003-04: $80,993 2004-05: $84,233 Source: Sycamore Community Schools

Susan Sauer, president of the SEA, said it was the first offer the negotiating team recommended for approval, but negotiators are not entirely happy with the contract.

"This is a business deal," she said. "It's the best we could do at this time. I'm not pleased with the insurance, but you've got to figure out when to say, `The End.' "

Health insurance had been a major stumbling block to a settlement.

The two groups were at a stalemate until Feb. 19, when they reached a tentative agreement. The new three-year contract, retroactive to Aug. 1, affects 504 Sycamore teachers.

Among contract terms:

• Salary increases of 4 percent each year of the contract, in addition to "step increases" for additional experience each year.

• A two-tier insurance plan to help manage insurance costs for individual teachers and the board. Teachers can choose between a plan that offers more extensive coverage at a higher cost to the individual teacher and the board, or more limited coverage at a lower cost.

• Increasing the incentive payment from $500 to $1,000 for teachers who do not take insurance benefits.

• Increases in supplemental pay schedule for coaches and club advisers.

• Compensation for exemplary performance on the state's annual Local Report Card. If the district receives an Excellent or Effective rating on the 2004 report card, each teacher would receive $250. The stipend would be $250 for an Excellent rating on the 2005 report card. The 6,000-student district currently has an Excellent rating.

Board President Charles Wilfong said three items were added since teachers voted down a proposal earlier this month.

The board gave an incentive to compensate teachers for excellence, removed a barrier preventing either side from filing unfair labor practices and added money to a fund to help alleviate potential increases in insurance premiums.

"We created a better comfort zone for them, and I'm delighted they decided to go in that direction," he said. "I'm very comfortable with the things we added to make this contract more attractive to teachers."

He said the contract is fiscally responsible and leaves the district in good financial shape.

The negotiations were of community-wide interest because Sycamore teachers are the highest paid in Hamilton County and among the highest paid in the state.

E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com