School District makes first counter offer on master contract to DEA

The Decorah Community School District presented its first counter offer to the Decorah Education Association on Friday afternoon.  The groups began their series of closed session meetings after that offer.

The School District's initial offer calls for a base salary increase of $215 to $30,910; and a total package increase of 3.25 perecent. Superintendent Mike Haluska said it is pretty difficult to makes offers and enter into negotiations void of any allowable growth decisions from the legislature.

The DEA had earlier proposed a master contract that called for a 5 percent salary increase, with an $895 base increase. The total additional cost of the proposal would amount to $455,687, or a 5.25 percent increase.