W-DC beats contract deadline

The Wadena-Deer Creek School District and its teachers' union, Education Minnesota-Wadena-Deer Creek Teachers, reached a contract agreement by the midnight Friday deadline.

The district would have been fined by a reduction of more than $29,000 in state appropriations if it had missed the deadline.

Superintendent Virginia Dahlstrom said the school board met at 6 p.m. Friday and approved a ratified contract. Teachers voted by ballots cast on Thursday and Friday, she said.

The 2009-11 teachers' contract includes a "hard" freeze for the first year and a "soft" freeze for the second year, said Dahlstrom. The first year includes no wage increases, including no step increases, but does include some lane changes, which involves a wage increase if a teacher obtains additional education. The second year works out to a 1.7 percent increase, allowing both steps and lane increases.

The contract also includes an additional financial boost for teachers as the school does away with its block system and creates a seven-period day at the high school next year. This will allow for more flexibility in scheduling and will result in more teaching time with students.

Education Minnesota, the state's teachers union, said Tuesday that 25 school districts failed to settle their two-year contracts by the deadline. Those districts now face a state penalty of $25 per student.

Minneapolis, Edina, St. Cloud and Brainerd are among districts that haven't settled their teacher contracts.

JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.

This story contains information provided by The Associated Press.