LIVERMORE FALLS – SAD 36 directors and teachers have agreed upon a three-year contract. It cost the district $210,000 to negotiate salary, benefits and experience steps for 2004-05.

The district took the total cost of the salary line for the teachers this year and increased it by 3 percent, Superintendent Terry Despres said.

There are 98 teachers, he said.

The SAD 36 Education Association decided where that increase went, board Negotiation Committee member Ashley O’Brien said. It wanted to split it depending on longevity and education, O’Brien said.

The total net change in salary was $139,119, Despres said.

The total health insurance increase was $69,425 for this year, he said.

For each of the remaining two years in the contract, the salary line will be increased by 3 percent. The increase in insurance is unknown for future years.

The contract kept the same health insurance agreement as the existing contract.

It was a very positive set of negotiations, Desres said. “We really had some good exchanges and some good dialogue.”

SAD 36 Chairwoman Denise Rodzen said there was an addition of another option in the contract that if there were 10 or more people so choosing to be on dental program, the cost could come out of their paychecks at no cost to the district.

“I think negotiations went really well,” she said. “I think it was a good give and take with both sides.”

The contract will be in effect from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007.

Rodzen said the only thing left unsettled is stipends for extracurricular activities. The bargaining units will be addressing that in the future.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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