Negotiators propose 1.19 percent raise for teachers

The board's proposal calls for a 1.19 percent total package increase, or $122,059 spread among the teachers as set forth in the teacher salary schedule in the Master Contract. The proposal also includes no benefit changes.

"Knowing that 82 percent of our budget is based on staff salary and benefits, to have a balanced budget, the biggest piece of that control is staff costs," said Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt, who made the presentation.

"The board is maintaining their commitment to previously negotiated contracts in that their proposal is to let the salary schedule work," he said. "Their feeling is the salary schedule was previously negotiated and we don't feel, that even though conditions probably warrant it, that a pay freeze would be something that is fair in the negotiation process.

"The board is willing to let the schedule work, but we are not going to be able to sustain much of an increase in employee salary this year based on new money and projected increased costs for next year."

Wendt said a total of $466,452 is expected in new money for the 2009-10 based on current projections.

He also noted that one-time reductions made this year, such as delaying textbook purchases, need to be added back into the budget and would come out of the new money pool.

The board also proposes that Teacher/Educator Quality Legislation dollars continue to be kept separate and apart from the collective bargaining Master contract. That money is distributed by the school district only if the Iowa Legislature sets it aside for that purpose.

The board bargaining team also presented several language changes to articles in the contract:

Under employee hours, arrival and dismissal time, the board proposes to add: "At the principals' discretion, regular meetings of the teaching staff may be conducted until 4:30 p.m. once a month during the months of October through April."

Under Special School Improvement Staff Development Hours, the board proposes to keep the language which says the board "may" have those development hours. Wendt said that particular paid item was cut for the 2008-09 school year in the budget cuts.

The board proposes to delete "Professional Leave" language from the contract.

"Our thinking is if we want to send people to workshops, we would do that under the directive assignment procedures," Wendt said.

The board also proposals a language change stating, "Personal leave days are subject to deduction for substitute teacher costs."

They also propose combining paid and unpaid personal leave days not exceed a total of five consecutive days of absence in any two consecutive contract years, excluding emergency related absence.

Changes are also proposed in procedures for evaluation, transfer and staff reduction.

"It's fair to say that the board has struggled for a couple years now trying to maintain a balanced budget," Wendt said in the presentation.

He added the board took into account the settlement history with the association, which is basically a good one, sometimes above the state average, sometimes below.

"We feel our teachers are well-paid at this time," Wendt said.

The two bargaining teams will meet in closed sessions beginning in late January. Both sides agreed to no meetings until the Iowa Legislature indicates funding for the 2009-10 year and insurance costs for employees are known.

Board members on the bargaining committee are Patrick Murphy and Dan Smith.