School Board makes initial contract offer

The Clear Lake School Board responded to a proposal by the Clear Lake Education Association asking for a 7.11 percent increase in its salary and benefit package for the 2015-16 school year with an initial offer of .79 percent.

The Board met in regular session Monday night.

Board president Mark Tesar explained the district’s offer keeps normal step increases in pay.  Including FICA and IPERS, the package would amount to a total cost to the district of $56,626.

That is in stark contrast to the estimated $507,626 cost of the CLEA proposal.

Under the district’s proposal, all medical plans will have higher deductibles.

The negotiation process will continue in the coming weeks between the CLEA and Board.

In other business at the meeting, an early retirement request from Sterling Washburn was accepted.  Washburn, who is a supervisor in the grounds and custodians departments, will be stepping down June 30 after 32 years with the district.  He is the first to accept the district’s new offer of early retirement incentives to its classified employees, including custodians, bus drivers, para educators and cooks.  To be eligible, staff must be at least 55 years of age as of June 30 of the year of retirement and are current classified employees who have completed 10 or more consecutive years of service in the Clear Lake Community School District.  A benefit payment of 25 percent of the employee’s basic salary will be placed in a non-elective 4039(b) Special Pay Plan at the time of retirement.

The purchase of a John Deere commercial grade utility mower was also approved by the Board at a cost of $37,251 after trade-in.  The only other quote received was $42,700 from Red Power.

The Board accepted the resignations of Middle School teacher Hannah Davis and paraprofessionals McKenzie Hanna and Barbara LeDuc.  The Board approved the hiring of paraprofessionals Vanessa Hartman and Stefanie Black.