Garrison school salary negotiations begin
Garrison school salary negotiations begin
By JILL DENNING GACKLE
Garrison educators came in strong in the first round of salary negotiations.
Garrison educators asked for an 8.5 percent and an 8 percent salary increase for the next two years, based on the 2011 Legislature’s intended disbursement of almost $500,000 in new dollars to the Garrison district. The first meeting between committees of board members and teachers was May 4; the next meeting was Wednesday at 7 p.m.
In justification, Nick Schmitz, teacher, said, “It’s not a cheap place to live anymore.” He said teachers like him are paying $650 a month rent and nearly $4 a gallon for gas to drive to Minot or Bismarck. “You might want to think about that when you think about the talent you want to attract here.”
The Legislature appropriated $901 million to North Dakota schools for teacher pay over the next two school years. The Garrison district’s share of that is $498,000 to be spread between the next two years. Districts are required to pay up to 70 percent toward compensation (including benefits) of teachers.
