Raises on the way for Post Falls teachers

POST FALLS — The Post Falls School District finally struck a deal Thursday with the Post Falls Education Association for this year’s teacher contracts.

After five negotiation meetings, the parties agreed to a 2.3 precent raise for teachers on base salary. The district will also continue to cover 100 percent of the cost of benefits for individual plans and 71 percent of the cost for family plans.

“We want to try to take care of everyone the best that we can,” Jake Smulkowski, vice president of the teachers union and lead negotiator, told the crowd of about 20 teachers and community members who showed up to the negotiations Thursday. “We know there are a lot of folks just insuring themselves and we want them to get the best deal they can, but then we also don’t want to put an undue burden on our families.”

Smulkowski estimated the higher benefit costs will add $56 to family plans, but that the salary increases should be enough to cover those costs.

The district said covering 71 percent of the benefits package will cost taxpayers $335,000 and the step-increments for teachers will cost $300,000. Information about how much the district will pay for the 2.3 percent salary increase was not available at press time.

The two parties came to an agreement after taking turns caucusing six different times Thursday. Each time the groups sat down to pose a new offer, they were very cordial and made it clear they were all interested in coming to an agreement in a timely manner.

“We’ve got a really good working relationship with the association and this kind of reiterates that,” said Becky Ford, the district’s assistant superintendent. “It’s been a really good process and we’re very pleased.”

The previous four meetings had focused more on the language of the contract and had hardly touched on salary and benefits. The district also agreed to hold a meeting during contract hours for its employees to learn about the benefits they’re receiving.

The teachers union started Thursday’s session by lowering their last bid of a 3.9 percent salary increase to a 3.5 percent salary increase, and for the district to maintain its 71 percent coverage of benefits.

The district countered with a 1.5 percent salary increase and agreed to maintain the 71 percent coverage of benefits.

After eventually agreeing on a 2.3 percent base salary increase, Smulkowski was a little disappointed, but he was glad he had done his job to take care of the teachers within the district.

“I think it’s the cost of doing business,” he said. “This took care of it for most, it broke even for most, based on what benefits they get... But for some it’s still a little bit of a loss.”

The agreement will be finalized when the teachers union ratifies it and the Post Falls school board approves it at its Aug. 8 meeting.