Teachers, District Reach Contract Agreement
The Wolf Point Education Association and the Wolf Point School District reached a tentative agreement during a nearly three-hour long meeting on Thursday, Nov. 10.
The three-year agreement calls for a 6.5 percent base salary increase for the 2022-2023 school, a 2 percent increase for 2023-2024 and a 2 percent increase for 2024-2025. In addition, there will be longevity pay of $1,750 for 20 or more years of service and $1,000 for 15 or more years of service.
Base salary will be $35,148 for 2022-2023, $35,851 for 2023-2024 and $36,568 for 2024-2025.
Wolf Point teachers’ final proposal came at 7:55 p.m. After school district officials reviewed some figures, they tentatively agreed to the proposal at 8:14 p.m.
Thursday’s meeting started with the Wolf Point Education Association proposing a 7 percent increase for the first year, 4 percent for the second year and 4 percent on the third year.
The school district’s proposal was 6 percent for the first year, 1.5 percent for the second year and 1.5 percent for the third year. The school district also presented a “Plan B” proposal, but teachers said they were not in favor of the attainment level elements of that plan.
The next proposal by the WPEA was 7 percent the first year, 3 percent the second year and 3 percent the third year.
After teachers explained that 7 percent for the first year was important in order to reach a base salary of $35,000, the school district made a proposal of 6.1 percent for the first year which would be a $35,000 base salary.
At this point, parties held a discussion regarding impact aid funds and the decrease of enrollment.
The WPEA’s next counter proposal was 6.5 percent the first year, 3 percent the following year and then 2 percent the third year.
After the school district made a proposal of 6.1 percent, 2 percent and 2 percent at 7:39 p.m., the WPEA met again and came forward with the final proposal.
The collective bargaining process for the contract started with a meeting Jan. 31. A mediator was brought into the process during June.
