Decorah School Board offering a 2.54 percent increase in teacher compensation

The initial offer presented by the Decorah School Board Monday afternoon to members of the Decorah Education Association calls for no increase in the base salary of teachers, but a 2.54 percent increase in the total reimbursement package.

School board negotiators say the offer is above the average settlement reached by 19 Iowa school districts to date, which has been 2.48 percent.

Much of the increase in school district spending would come from paying health insurance costs.  DEA representative Steve Peterson says the offer "outlines the decisions we have to make," specifically whether the additional $232,275 in teacher reimbursement should best be allocated to health insurance costs or to increasing the base wage.

The two sides will meet again next Monday at 4:00 p.m. to continue their discussions about the 2019-2020 school year package.