The Carroll Community School District (CCSD) Board of Education has reached negotiations with Carroll Education Support Association (CESA) for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. CESA which represents the district’s teacher associates, initially proposed a $1 per hour increase to all associates salaries and to adopt language in contracts to ensure they will be paid even on shorted days due to weather, such as early outs or morning delays. The district proposed an increase of one percent to salaries and benefits across the entire CESA group which would equate to just over $17,000 the district would have to contribute in the raises. Superintendent Dr. Casey Berlau explains what the was negotiated and accepted by both parties.
Board Member Stacey McCauley motioned to approve with some proposed revisions.
Board Member Jim Friel says that would equate to around $10 a week in increases and seconded that motion. Berlau says he was unsure of how to proceed from here as this has never happened since he started serving in a superintendent role.
Board President Kristen Lundstrom, says it’s insulting to the negotiation committee, who worked with CESA to agree on the 75-cent raise, plus other benefits, such as personal leave usage changes, and more, for being “accused” of not being considerate of the district’s support staff needs. Board Member Jill Johnston agreed, saying just because CESA did not get their initial offer, they did receive other benefits that they did not request for in their first proposal.
Other benefits negotiated was the use of personal leave the first and last five days of school under a unique circumstance, pay for weather related delays or cancellations equivalent to two days, and after earning 120 sick days, ten can be traded in for one additional personal day. The first motion made by McCauley was turned down on a 2-3 vote, with McCauley and Friel being the sole “yay” votes. The motion was then made to approve the negotiations as is, with the same outcome as previous vote, just on the opposite ends. Board members also approved on a turn-in bonus for CESA and non-bargaining staff for contracts submitted back within five days of receiving it. Staff under CESA would receive a $250 bonus, while non-bargaining will receive $100.