Moses Lake teachers at bargaining impasse

MOSES LAKE — Teachers in the Moses Lake School District declared an impasse during contract negotiations with the district for salary increases and other contractual items.

The Moses Lake Education Association, representing the teachers, requested a mediator from the state to help with negotiations.

Teachers are seeking smaller classroom sizes, special-education class-size limits, assistance in overcrowded classrooms and a salary increase.

Association UniServ S.E. Council Representative Leslie Bedke declined to discuss the amount of salary increase sought by teachers.

"I can't give you that specific information," Bedke said. "I can't give you the details of what's going on at the bargaining table."

She said the district and teachers have met more than seven times since April.

District Superintendent of Business and Operations Monte Redal said the mediator is supplied by the Public Employee Relations Commission. A date is going to be decided on for the parties to meet.

"We want a good contract for our teachers, but we also need to be able to financially maintain that into the future," Redal said.

He expressed confidence the two parties could obtain resolution.

The Moses Lake Education Association claims the projected budget reserve for the district in the 2006 to 2007 school year is 9 percent.

Redal said the projected amount is less — 7.44 percent.

"The good rule of thumb for school districts is one month's salary and accounts payable (in reserve)," Redal said.

Most districts keep 5 percent to 7 percent in the budget reserve, he said.

The district is being conservative with the budget reserve because of the construction of the new elementary school, which will require additional staff, Redal said.

Teachers are asking for supplementary pay beyond the state-set salary, Redal said. The district did offer more than the state-set salary, but it wasn't acceptable to the teachers, he said.

Redal said the district wants to arrive at an equitable, sustainable contract with teachers.

Teachers rallied in Cascade Park Thursday. Numbers from the education association place the amount of members in attendance at 200.

"This is a wonderful show of solidarity," stated association President Michele Kittrell. "I'm hopeful that we can reach an equitable settlement, so that we can start school with a contract and give 100 percent to our students."