Mediation Continues For Teachers, District

The Wolf Point Education Association and Wolf Point School District reached several tentative agreements during a nearly sixhour mediation session on Wednesday, Sept. 22, but the two sides still haven’t reached a final decision on wages.

The school district increased its wage proposal to a 6 percent increase for the first year, 1.5 percent for the second year and 1.5 percent for the third year.

The most recent proposal from the education association was 7 percent for the first year, then 4 percent and then 4 percent for the third year.

At the end of the meeting, mediator David Luckey explained the teachers wanted to conduct more research regarding the latest wage proposal. It was indicated that the education association wasn’t going to request a fact finder at this point.

One of the agreements reached was an increase of pay to $90 a day when a teacher is requested by a building principal to substitute for another elementary classroom for the day or payment of $15 per class period. The amount has been $60 a day for many years.

Acting superintendent Kim Hanks noted, “I would say we have no subs. Every day I’m asking teachers to help.”

Another agreement was that all teachers will be given up to 15 years credit on the salary schedule for outside teaching experience.