Youngstown schools CEO Krish Mohip plans to re-open contract negotiations with the district’s teachers’ union – in order make them accept a hefty raise.
Mohip offered the teachers a 7% raise: the 2% hike outlined in the current contract and an additional 5%. But union leadership rejected the offer. So Mohip is using his authority as CEO to make the union negotiate the issue. He says the raise is included in the district's strategic plan; it's a strategy to keep staff from going to other districts.
“In my plan I’m asking for our compensation structure to be regionally competitive. We’re one of the lowest paid in the valley. We have a very challenged school district. If we’re going to retain and attract some of the top talent, we need to make sure that we’re paying them accordingly," says Mohip.
Mohip wants to meet with the union on Tuesday, May 16. The teachers union reportedly plans to respond by Monday, May 15. The union did not respond to requests for comment.