School board, LCEA set first contract negotiation dates

The Le Mars Community School Board of Education and the Le Mars Community Education Association have set dates to begin the opening rounds of contract negotiations for the 2009-2010 master contract.

In a letter to board president Dr. Mark Stelzer, LCEA president Robbin Hermsen suggested the first bargaining session be held at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, in the board room. At that meeting, the LCEA will make its initial proposal.

The board of education approved that date, and set 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, also in the board room, as the time for the board's initial proposal to the LCEA.

Representing the school board on the negotiation team will be members Dan Smith and Patrick Murphy, with Dr. Mark Stelzer serving as alternate. They were appointed and approved at the Monday, Nov. 10 board meeting.

Doug Martin serves as negotiator for the education association.

Both the Dec. 1 and 15 meetings are open to the public. Further negotiation meetings may be closed to the public by agreement of the board and the LCEA.