Teacher negotations winding down, meeting today

Contract negotiations between the Coeur d’Alene School District and the Coeur d’Alene Education Association continue today from 4-8 p.m. at Hayden Meadows Elementary School, 900 E. Hayden Ave., Hayden.

A tentative agreement was reached last week. This meeting could be the last before the negotiating teams meet separately on June 6, with members of the groups they have been bargaining on behalf of, to seek ratification of the final agreement.

At today’s meeting, the negotiating teams are expected to discuss how the local pay for performance plan will be developed. Teacher pay for performance, one of the reforms passed during the last legislative session, is not slated to become effective during this school year.

The negotiation meetings are open to the public, although no comments or questions are accepted during negotiations. Caucuses, meetings when the teams separate to deliberate, can be called at any time, and are closed to the public.

Members of the public are asked to sign in on an attendance sheet, silence cell phones, enter and exit quietly, refrain from conversation, and keep non-verbal communication neutral.

Negotiations began in April, and must be completed by June 10.

Read the full story about last week's agreement here: http://cdapress.com/news/local_news/article_dc807148-8874-11e0-9e2c-001cc4c03286.html