Decorah School District counters initial DEA proposal

The Decorah Community School District has countered a proposal from the Decorah Education Association (DEA) that was made last week for the 2016-17 Master Contract and called for a total 4.28 percent package increase.

The District said its counter offer took into consideration that the DEA offer actually amounted to a 5.10 percent increase. The District offered a 2.50 percent package, with a $40 increase to the base salary and the new base being $28,699.  Total salary increase would be 2.79 percent. The offer also included elimination of family illness leaves.

At issue is the language and calculation of costs the sides have related to the DEA proposal for adoption and parental leaves.  However calculated, the DEA proposal would include additional costs for those contract expansions.

The two parties went into private negotiations after the 4:45 public meeting on Tuesday evening.