Decorah School Board presents its contract proposal to teachers group

Contract talks between the Decorah Community School Board and the Decorah Education Association entered the second step on Tuesday afternoon as the negotiating team of the Board presented its initial offer to the DEA.

The Board offer included a $0 increase to base pay, with step and lane salary increases equaling 1.41 per cent, or an increase of $93,461 in salary costs. The total package offer including insurance benefits amounted to 1.91 per cent amounting to $160,611. The proposal cut the $500 district contribution to employee health plans such as their flex accounts.

The district rationale for its offer included the fact that the FY10 settlement was 3.69 percent, above the 3.25 state average. Additionally the Board noted that the savings accomplished this year had been done so to maintain the current staffing patterns without teacher cuts.

The teachers group presented a request for a 3.86 percent salary and benefits increase for the 2010-2011 school year last week.

The negotiating teams will go into private session this Thursday.