Teacher union proposes $2,000 stipend, insurance boost and rollover personal days in initial 2026'7 proposal

The Trainer Education Association's negotiation team presented its opening proposal for the 2026'27 contract to the Treynor Community School District board, asking for a $2,000 stipend for certified staff, an increase in the district's monthly insurance contribution from $700 to $750, and several language changes governing personal- and sick-leave payouts.

Jacob Barish, the union's chief negotiator, told the board the package is intended to keep pace with neighboring districts and to protect employee pay when insurance costs rise. "Employees would be able to accumulate 1 personal day per year, that they could then roll over to the next year, to get a maximum of 4," Barish said, describing a proposed new rollover bank. He also proposed raising the retirement sick-day payout from $10 to $15 per day.

Barish said the stipend and insurance-change combination totals roughly $152,400 in the first year based on about 59 certified staff: "$2,000 as a stipend times 59 employees ... working out to a total package of $152,400," he said. He and the TEA negotiation team also proposed limited reopeners or "triggers" tied to inflation or significant insurance increases to reopen talks if needed.

Superintendent (presenting the district side of scheduling) told the board they would move into an exempt session after the meeting to assemble a district initial proposal, and the board targeted an exchange with the TEA for the next day at 4:30 p.m. The board did not vote on the union proposal during this meeting; it served as TEA's opening position ahead of bargaining.