Historic Deal Between Dearborn Teachers, Schools

DEARBORN (WWJ) - The Dearborn school district and its teachers are taking drastic measures to weather the state's economic storm. "A historic day," is how Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Brian Whiston described it.

He shared some of the details with WWJ Newsradio 950's Pat Sweeting.

'The Dearborn teachers and the Board of Education reached an agreement on a new contract that will reduce wages by six or seven percent," he said.

The plan also includes a new health care plan that will be run by a union-owned trust, but puts a cap on costs incurred by the district. 

"Probably the most extradinary... is that the teachers are taking over the insurance of the district. We're gonna write them a check of $997 per employee, per month, and then they're going to run their own insurance," Whiston said.

Due to developments in Lansing, Whiston said Dearborn had to cut $22 million from its budget.  This agreement means there's about $3 million more to go.

On the up side, David Atkins, President of the Dearborn Federation of Teachers Local 681,  said twelve laid off teachers will be brought back.

"Beginning of the second semester, the district laid off a number of staff to balance the budget for that year. Again, Lansing cuts partway through our fiscal year, and it means chaos for us," Atkins said.

The agreement is expected to receive final school board approval next week. The new deal will run through June 2013.