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Negotiations committee exchanges teacher pay proposals, then moves into closed session
Summary
On March 9 the Merton Community School District negotiations committee exchanged salary proposals: the union asked for a 2.63% raise effective July 1, while district staff offered about 2.3% (roughly $91,337 total, about $1,523.82 per full‑time teacher); the committee then voted to enter closed session for bargaining under state law.
The Merton Community School District negotiations committee met on March 9 to exchange proposals on teacher compensation and voted to enter closed session for bargaining.
The meeting opened with the Chair noting the meeting had been posted and the agenda was approved by voice vote. The union’s opening position was presented when a Presenter said, “The union is asking for the max 2.63, effective July 1.”
A Staff member described the district’s budget context and its offer. The staff presentation said the district expects about $490,000 in new revenue-limit dollars but also faces roughly $545,000 in new costs before salary increases, including a new science adoption and an additional primary school teacher. The Staff member said the district’s base-wage calculation produced approximately a 2.05% figure and that the district’s proposal is about a 2.3% increase, “approximately $91,337,” to total teacher dollars earned. The Staff member added, “So ultimately, the result is that every full time teacher gets, $1,523.82 increase in this,” and described a $723.82 step component plus loyalty payments for qualifying staff.
The Staff member also listed anticipated cost pressures the district must absorb, including an approximate 15% increase in health insurance and inflationary rises for utilities and transportation, which the district said reduced the pool available for raises.
After exchanging proposals, a Committee member moved that the body enter closed session "pursuant to" the state statute cited in the meeting; the Chair called for a roll call and the committee entered closed session to continue negotiations. The committee later reconvened in open session, the Chair announced there was no new business to report, and members moved, seconded and voted to adjourn.
The committee did not announce any final agreement on raises in open session; the closed-session discussion was for bargaining and no final public action was recorded at the meeting’s close.
