The Observer., November 21, 2019, Image 16

2019/20 LA GRANDE SCHOOL DISTRICT
SUPERINTENDENT BUDGET MESSAGE:
ƒ ”ƒ†‡Šƒ•ƒŽ‘‰Š‹•–‘”›‘ˆϐ‹•…ƒŽŽ›…‘•‡”˜ƒ–‹˜‡„—†‰‡–‹‰ƒ†ϐ‹†•
‹–•‡Žˆ‹ƒ„‡––‡”’‘•‹–‹‘ϐ‹ƒ…‹ƒŽŽ›–Šƒƒ›‘–Š‡”†‹•–”‹…–•ƒ…”‘••–Š‡
state. In the last four years our district has been very fortunate in that our
student enrollment has increased by more than 200 students, although
we did experience a decline in enrollment for the 2018-19 school year of
about 20 students. We anticipate this trend will reverse itself as we start
the 2019-20 school year.
Š‹••…Š‘‘Ž›‡ƒ”™ƒ•ƒ‡‰‘–‹ƒ–‹‘•›‡ƒ”™‹–Š…Žƒ••‹ϐ‹‡†ƒ†…‡”–‹ϐ‹‡†•–ƒˆˆǤ
It was a collaborative experience where our goal was to focus on interest-
based needs. I am truly pleased with the overall outcome. This negotiation
process clearly expressed the district’s desire to invest in our best resource...
our staff. Thriving staff members best impact student learning. We agreed
to a 3%, 3%, 3% per year wage increase and $40.00 per month insurance
…ƒ’‹…”‡ƒ•‡ˆ‘”–Š‡‡š–͵›‡ƒ”•™‹–Š‘—”…‡”–‹ϐ‹‡†•–ƒˆˆǤ ‘”…Žƒ••‹ϐ‹‡†•–ƒˆˆ
we had a mutual goal of improving our salary schedule so that we could
•–ƒ›ƒŠ‡ƒ†‘ˆ‹‹—™ƒ‰‡ƒ•™‡ŽŽƒ•ƒ††”‡••‹‰‡‡†•™‹–ŠŠƒ”†Ǧ–‘Ǧϐ‹ŽŽ
positions such as cooks and custodians. We agreed to a 5% wage increase
over this current year and the upcoming year (5%, 5%). To do this we
agreed to not give any steps over the next 2 years. On year 3 we will give a
standard 3% per year wage increase (with steps) and we agreed to a $45
per month insurance cap increase for the next 3 years. Additionally, if the
–ƒ–‡…Š‘‘Ž —†”‡ƒ…Š‡•̈́ͻǤͳ„‹ŽŽ‹‘ˆ‘”–Š‡„‹‡‹—ǡ™‡†‹†ƒ‰”‡‡™‹–Š
both unions to a $75 insurance cap increase for all employees.