Teachers propose $27,500 base salary

The opening proposal presented by the Le Mars Community Education Association would raise the base salary for teachers by $1,200 for next year to $27,500.

The increase of 7.91 percent to the base would was charted by association representatives for all levels of the teachers' salary schedule. A teacher at the highest level of experience past step 16, with a masters degree plus 30 credit hours of additional education, would make $52,525 for the 2004/05 school year if the opening proposal was accepted by the school board.

Other changes proposed to the master contract would increase pay for two activities sponsors:

* school annual or yearbook position to 6-7-8 percent range from the current 4-5-6 percent range; and,

* FFA advisor to be added to the supplemental schedule at 11-12-13 percent.

The cost of all changes proposed by the association was totaled as $678,881, according to LCEA negotiator Craig Hamrick.

The association based their proposal on 192 days for the year with any additional days to be paid at a per diem cost.

Teachers proposed deleting a seven-year limit to earn credits to advance on the salary schedule. Board members asked for clarification on current policy and were told by Kent Schwiesow, assistant superintendent, "Any credits used for advancement can't be more than seven years old."

The association asked that the school district increase their contribution toward insurance from $598 per month per employee to $720.

In the section about leaves of absence, the association proposes five days allowed per contract year from the two currently allowed for a dependent's illness.

The section allowing leave for catastrophic illness or injury to be granted by the superintendent currently is only for a family member. The association proposes adding the employee as the one who might have the illness or injury.

The association seeks to be involved with the administration in developing the language to comply with new state teaching standards and criteria on evaluation procedures. However, Hamrick said later that the state has pushed back the standards to 2005 and there could be further delays.

The association also proposes a change to define procedures for a transfer. The LCEA would like a transfer to include re-assignment to a different job classification, grade level, subject area or building.

The first two sessions of contract negotiations are mandatory open meetings. Meetings after that time will be closed.

Members of the school board's negotiation team are Dan Smith and Chuck Holz, with Marjorie Franke as alternate. They will present the board's answer at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15 in room 201 of the high school.