Atlantic Education Association asks for 12.4% salary increase

The association’s proposal included a $5,900 increase to the base salary as well as increasing all coach/sponsor contracts by 12.4%, and it also included a base increase of $5,230 to the nurse’s salary schedule. Total cost of this proposal is estimated at $794,000.

The district’s proposal included a $750 increase to the base salary and adding an additional $1,000 to the base generator for current coach/sponsor contracts. It also included a base increase of $425 to the nurse’s salary schedule and the newly created schedule for Mental Health Professionals. Total cost of this proposal is estimated at $201,315.

A bill passed and signed by former Governor Terry Branstad says public employee unions can only negotiate wages, but not things like insurance, dues checkoffs, supplemental pay for teachers, evaluation procedures and other perks that were formally required to be negotiated. And three years ago, the board approved a new compensation model for certified staff contract, which had a flat dollar amount that certified staff would receive no matter what step they were on from year to year, and said the “step based” model, which had been used would not be sustainable as years go by due to the amount of funding provided by the state for schools.

With the step based model, members start at a base wage, and move up a step each year. Typically, when staff members move up a step, they receive a percentage increase in their salary. Association members agreed to the new model, but said it favored teachers already employed and not newly hired teachers.

Atlantic Superintendent Steve Barber said Thursday the meeting just consisted of exchanging proposals and otherwise the two groups were looking for a date to continue contract negotiations.