Arbitrator will decide fate of LCS teacher contract negotiations

Negotiating teams for the Le Mars Community Education Association (LCEA) and Le Mars Community School Board of Education presented their final offers on salary and insurance for the 2009-10 school year and arguments for their position to an arbitrator in a four-hour hearing which was open to the public.

The decision of the arbitrator is final and must be given in 15 days. Arbitrator Sharon Gallagher indicated she would try to have a decision by May 4, and no later than May 8.

The arbitrator will evaluate all the information presented by both bargaining teams and decide which offer will go into effect. The arbitrator by law cannot make a compromise decision.

The LCEA team representing LCS teachers, brought a final offer of a 3.7 percent increase over the current year's package.

That includes a $450 increase in base salary, from $30,295 to $30,745, and an $85 increase in the district's contribution to insurance, to $865 per month.

The school district's final offer is a 1.81 percent increase over the current year's package, with no increase in base salary, and a $35 increase in insurance contribution by the district to $815 per month.

Its proposal also allows the salary schedule to remain in place for teachers to get the step enhancements, which are increases in pay for years of teaching and advanced education.

In its initial proposal in December 2008, the LCEA asked for a $1,100 increase in base pay and an increase of $100 per month in the district's contribution to employee insurance premiums, representing a 6.15 percent increase over the 2008-09 contract.

The school district's bargaining team opened with a proposed 1.19 percent increase, spread among the teachers as set forth in the teacher salary schedule in the master contract, and no benefit changes.

The bargaining teams have met in closed negotiation sessions since that time, and have been unable to come to a final agreement.

This is the first time the teachers' association and the district have gone to arbitration since 1994.

Representatives from both sides presented pages of information in support of their positions.

Three members of the Iowa State Education Association represented the LCEA.

They argued the district will be getting the total 4 percent allowable growth in state aid with the help of federal stimulus dollars and therefore can afford to pay the 3.7 percent increase.

They pointed to the previous settlements since 1995 which support the association's request for a 3.7 percent increase.

Those settlements, according to LCEA representatives, were voluntary settlements, which included base salary increases as well as step movements and increases for insurance costs.

The school district negotiating team countered that while Iowa Gov. Chet Culver and the Legislature have indicated school districts will receive federal stimulus dollars, a definite amount coming to the district has not been given and therefore the district should not budget federal stimulus dollars that are not yet committed. The district also notes that federal stimulus dollars are available for only two years.

The LECD team pointed out that without an increase in the base salary, teachers at the highest end of the salary schedule would actually see a decrease in their paycheck as they would need to pay for the higher insurance costs of family insurance.

Speaking for the school district's negotiating team, Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt said while every teacher is required to carry single insurance coverage, not all teachers carry family insurance coverage.

The LCEA also indicated they felt the district has budgeted sufficient funds to cover theteachers' requested increases.

Wendt pointed out the school board implemented the Cash Reserve Levy for the 2009-10 school year to build back a cash balance in anticipation of projected declining enrollment in the next several years.

In supporting documentation, Wendt explained to the arbitrator how the school board attempted to implement the Instructional Support Levy after the sharp decline in student enrollment in the 2007-08 school year. Resolutions by the board in February 2008 and in July 2008 were petitioned by district residents and put to a vote. Both times the levy was defeated.

The board passed a third resolution in January 2009, which was again petitioned by district residents to be put to a vote.

The board decided not to pursue an election due to the divisiveness it was causing in the community.

Both the LCEA and school district teams made comparisons of the district's contract settlements, financial conditions and tax rates with school districts in the Lakes Conference and other 3A schools in the area.

Both sides also identified the nation's current economic situation is playing a role in current negotiations.

Wendt emphasized the district's board has had a great relationship and cooperation with bargaining teams.

The board's appreciation for teachers and their work in the district has not changed, he said. What has changed, he continued, is the financial change in the district.

He added the board needs to continue to be fiscally responsible.