D-G-F teachers, board approve new contract

After months of finagling and compromise, teacher contract negotiations are over at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.

The teachers association approved the contract Monday afternoon, and the school board ratified it later that evening.

The two sides agreed on a budgeted 9.48 percent increase over the next two years, spread over salary, extracurricular pay, and insurance and retirement benefits.

Teachers will see a 2 percent salary increase the first year, plus $145. In the second year, they will receive a 1.5 percent salary increase plus $200.

The total 9.48 percent increase is expected to cost the district an estimated $496,000 over the next two years.

While both sides were happy to be finished with the negotiations, neither was thrilled with the outcome.

Adam Burnside, Education Minnesota D-G-F president and chief negotiator, said the teachers' vote was split.

"That tells me that people weren't happy with the final numbers, and there's a sense and a feeling that the board could have done more."

Burnside said many teachers have seen teachers in other districts get better settlements.

Negotiations started last May. In late December, the groups spent six hours with a mediator to help resolve several gridlocked issues.

"Nobody was totally happy with it," said Ronnie Tang, D-G-F School Board member. "Hopefully, we're at a somewhat compromise."

Tang said the district is still going to be deficit-spending, but it would have been deficit-spending even without the teachers' increase.

The School Board also elected new officers Monday night. Jerry Anderson is chairman, Ronnie Tang vice chairman, Lori Keblar clerk and Marilyn Labrensz treasurer.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Tracy Frank at (701) 241-5526