By Lori Ehde
Luverne teachers are putting the heat on School Board members and administration as contract negotiations drag on.
At Tuesday's School Board meeting, a throng of teachers filled the high school library meeting space, and many touted large signs bearing negotiation messages.
The district is currently offering a 9.75-percent "total package" increase over two years. That includes salaries, benefits, step increases, etc.
Teachers are asking for a 12.16-percent total package increase over two years.
The hot point now is a difference of opinion in which numbers to use as a basis for negotiations.
Typically, talks are based on the previous yearÕs numbers, and the contract is retrofitted to the actual numbers.
Last year there were 98 teachers. This year, 2001-02, there are 93, unless you count the recently hired special needs staff, which adds another full-time equivalent.
The Luverne Education Association wants talks to be based on this year's numbers, because without those five salaries, teachers say the district has another $235,000 per year at its disposal.
"If you take that amount times two years, plus factor in four more retirements, that's $590,000," LEA negotiator Doug Dooyema said after the meeting.
That's money, he said, that could be applied toward existing teachers' salaries and benefits.
"This is a true cost savings to the district," Dooyema said. "If we could get the money in the true cost savings, weÕd have our settlement right now."
Many of the signs displayed at Tuesday's meeting depicted the No. 98 circled and crossed off beside a No. 93.
The teachers say state law now requires districts to use actual staff numbers, not last year's numbers. "93. It's the law," one sign read.
LEA vice president Jane Cote addressed the board on the issue. "Wouldn't it make more sense to build your budget using the required elements of structural balance from the onset and not have to go back and recalculate after the settlement is made?" she asked the board.
"It's time to do what is both legally and ethically right to do," she said.
The board heard CoteÕs statement but didn't comment.
For many of the teachers, knowing how much money the district has at its disposal has a bearing on how much they're asking for.
For example, they know the district has an additional $635,000 per year at its disposal through the excess levy referendum approved last fall.
Teachers feel some of this money should be spent on salaries. One of the signs displayed at Tuesday's meeting made the point that Luverne School District is in the bottom third of the state for teacher salaries and the top third for money in the bank.
Many teachers just want to bring their salaries closer to what their peers are earning statewide.
According to the Minnesota State School Boards Association, the average starting salary for teachers in Minnesota is $27,763. In Luverne, starting base salary is $25,844.
"When we keep falling behind, it makes it difficult for us to recruit new teachers when our teachers retire," LEA co-chair Gordie Hansen told board members at their March 14 meeting.
"All we're asking for is an average settlement. It would be a great way to show appreciation for a job well done. Right now we have good teachers looking to leave because of the way we're treated."
He also made the point that with increasing health care costs, the district's current offer wouldn't amount to much after a $1,000 deductible, which is what teachers now pay for health insurance.
Middle school principal
Superintendent Vince Schaefer updated the board on the hiring process for a middle school principal.
He said 62 applicants were narrowed to 47 for the interview team to select five for interviews, which were conducted Friday and Saturday.
From there, two candidates were selected to be interviewed before the board. One is Dawn Hansen, Deephaven, who currently works in the Hopkins School District. The other is Stacy Gillette, Buffalo, who works in the Rockford School District.
"We feel these candidates were very strong," Schaefer said.
In other business...
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The board also approved three early dismissal days for staff development to be taken at the end of each quarter.
Schaefer updated the board on the most current open enrollment numbers.
He said there are 127 students open enrolled into the Luverne District for 2001-02. He estimates there will be 132 open enrolled for 2002-03, taking into account graduating seniors.
There are 31 Luverne students open enrolled to other districts.