BY DENEEN SMITH
dsmith@kenoshanews.com

PARIS — The Paris School teachers’ union is showing little interest in making concessions, calling for a 3 percent wage hike in the opening round of contract talks.

Representatives of the union and the Paris Board of Education met Wednesday for the opening of contract negotiations.

The union, represented by Southern Lakes United Educators, gave its initial proposal to the board negotiating team.

It included a call for an across-the-board 3 percent wage increase, increases in compensation for wages outside the traditional school day, and additional credit on the salary schedule for changes in licensure status.

The union’s proposal differs sharply from board expectations.

“I didn’t see a single concession in here,” said board member Glen Bennett after the proposal was presented. “I see nine or 10 increases, some of them major. So you’re proposing nothing that helps our situation.”

In the board’s initial proposal, made public in June, the district is calling for a wage freeze and concessions in health care and retirement benefits.

In an opening statement, Rick Moore, director for Southern Lakes United, said teachers have been targeted unfairly for criticism during the public debate over Paris’s financial problems. He blamed the state funding formula and declining enrollment and state aid for the district’s problems.

“I was very disappointed,” said Leslie Holloway, Paris board president, of the teachers’ proposal. She said the board is firmly behind its call for concessions.

Paris teachers’ salary and benefits package has been the focus of much criticism during the public debate over district’s financial problems. The district’s 2008-09 salaries were the highest in Kenosha County, and retirement benefit costs are also high.

Although residents approved a tax increase in June after the board said it would be forced to dissolve the district without an influx of funds, taxpayers have called on the board to negotiate concessions with the union.

The two sides did not announce the date for the next negotiation session.

The initial meeting was open to the public, and several residents along with a group of teachers attended. Future negotiations will be held in closed session.