Cass Lake-Bena School District negotiators met with the Cass Lake Education Association (CLEA) negotiators for the 6th meeting on August 14. The meeting began with district negotiators first meeting in caucus -- a private meeting to discuss offers on the table. The district negotiators then provided the following counter offer to CLEA's previous offer:
Salary increase 2% on all cells each year of contract + steps (additional 1% cost)
Increase curriculum rate of pay to $38 year 1 and $40 year two, contingent upon agreeing that the hourly rate of pay when teachers take a portion of another teacher’s classroom remains at the current $35/hour level;
Health Insurance Contributions: Family $1,376/month; Single +1 $ 1,000; IF the contribution to single is changed to a dollar amount - district will contribute $930 single plan (which is equivalent to the lowest cost plan now ). Percentages are difficult to budget for and cost containment is necessary for sustainability.
No reduction in student contact days. Would consider reducing the number of teacher days by 1 or 2.
Discussion was held about the amount of leave taken by staff, including unpaid leave and ways to work together to prioritize staff being present for students. Both parties had access to employee absence data.
CLEA negotiators met in caucus and returned with the following counter proposal:
Salary increase 2.5% year 1 and 2.25% year 2 on all cells
Health insurance district contribution: Family $1,500, Single +1 $1,250 and no change to the current language regarding single plans where the district pays for the full cost of the lowest cost single plan
Severance pay language change to compensate staff employed by the district for 20+ years for unused sick leave at the daily rate of pay plus all bonuses for a substitute teacher.
Reduces the contract days by 2 days for students, resulting in 170 days for students and 179 days for staff Year 2. Also offered to eliminate Monday late starts, to recover hours. PLCs would need to be scheduled differently.
Discussion ensued about when/why the contract moved to 172 days for students and 181 for teachers -- CLEA negotiators shared that happened due to involvement in SIG programming and that those additional days were compensated at the time
The next meeting is August 28, 2025 at 4:00 pm in high school room 435.