Trustees receive update on tentative teacher agreement; district to raise insurance contribution and increase salary matrix cells

District negotiators reported a tentative agreement with the Missoula Education Association (MEA) reached July 2 and summarized key terms to the board July 15. The agreement is tentative pending MEA member ratification over the summer; if ratified it will be brought to the board for final approval in September.

Chief negotiator/administrator reported that the district agreed to increase its health‑insurance contribution for all eligible employees by $25 per month. The proposal also continues a move away from percentage‑based raises toward whole‑dollar cell increases on the teacher salary matrix; negotiators described an across‑the‑matrix increase (noted in materials as $2,526 per cell this year with an additional whole‑dollar increase the following year). Additional components in the tentative deal include a longevity stipend for teachers at 20/25/30 years of service, modest increases to stipends/curriculum rates tied to a base salary factor, limits on multiple horizontal lane moves in a single year, and an increase in personal leave from two to three days.

Administrators told trustees the agreement is designed to raise the district’s relative standing toward the STARS Act salary minimums and to reduce gaps between lower and higher matrix cells. The superintendent said the district reaches roughly 68% of the STARS target under the proposed changes but that demographic shifts (retirements, new hires) will affect that ongoing calculation.

Trustees asked clarifying questions about how the matrix changes translate into percentage increases, the effect on non‑MEA employees and the timetable for ratification. Administration also presented a separate proposal to apply whole‑dollar increases to nonunion employees (rough market adjustments across roughly 100 positions); trustees approved that personnel motion at the meeting.