Decorah teachers, school district agree on 2015-2016 contract

There's a tentative agreement between the Decorah Education Association and the Decorah Community School District on a 2015-2016 contract.

The agreement calls for a 3.52 percent increase in projected costs for next year, which includes salary, health insurance, retirement funds, and more.  The agreement includes a $369 increase in base pay.

The two sides had just two negotiating sessions before reaching the tentative agreement.  The school board had offered a $130 increase in base pay, while the DEA sought a $665 increase.  The school board had offered a total package increase of 2.82 percent, while the DEA sought a 4.3 percent total package increase.