Spencer school board members placed the finishing touches on employee wages as they ratified teacher contracts for 2008-09 Thursday morning. The 4.26 percent, or $391,569 total package, increase approved for Spencer Education Association (SEA) members also includes a $630 increase on teachers' base pay, raising it to $27,035 for beginning teachers, and a $150 increase for family insurance.

"I appreciate the teachers negotiating in good faith," said board member Dean Mechler, deeming the settlement a "win-win" situation.

While he noted the 4.26 percent total increase is below the state's current average of 4.55 percent, Superintendent Greg Ebeling also mentioned the district is "in a competitive marketplace" and expressed recruitment concerns, especially if the district's "base doesn't keep up." He indicated Spencer's public teacher wages currently fall below those in Sheldon, Spirit Lake and other conference schools. Ebeling then informed board members that the state has mandated a $28,000 minimum base salary next year, in addition to a $30,000 minimum for teachers with two or more years experience.

The union, which represents 108 full- and part-time teachers in Spencer, delivered its initial contract proposal on Jan. 17. The requested 6.9 percent total package increase totaled $634,439. In addition to a $1,400 base pay increase, SEA representatives Scott Rettey and Duane Davis told Ebeling that association members wanted to see a 10 percent increase for medical insurance and a $500 hike for family medical coverage in next year's master contract.

In the district's initial contract proposal, delivered Jan. 24, Ebeling presented a total package increase worth 1.89 percent, or $173,518. This represented "aging" the current salary schedule at an estimated cost of $108,812 and a 9 percent increase for insurance at a cost of $64,706.

The agreed-upon 2008-09 contract, meanwhile, compares to a 4.88 percent, or $415,481, total package approved for Spencer teachers this school year.

On Friday, board members approved a total support staff package including a 3.82 percent, or $102,233 increase. The 2008-09 support staff settlement includes a $250 insurance and a 30 cent per-hour increase, among other additions and changes.

The Spencer board also set wages for the district's administrators and supervisors last week. Administrators (Kathy Elliott, Lucas DeWitt, Bob Kirschbaum, Steve Barber, Joe Mueting, Jade Beehler and Roger Johnson) received a 3.92 percent total package, or $29,069, increase for 2008-09.

The superintendent, who will mark his fifth year as the Spencer public school district's CEO next school year, will complete his third of a three-year contract reached with board members. Ebeling will earn a $7,000 salary increase in 2008-09, putting his wage at $131,000. Along with FICA, IPERS and family insurance benefits, he will receive a $165,398 total package.

"So hang onto your wallet next year," board president David Schlichtemeier told fellow board members during last week's meeting.

"I'm not planning on going anywhere. So I won't play games with you," Ebeling assured.

Supervisors and non-union salaried employees in the central office, food service and maintenance/transportation/grounds areas of the school district also received a 3.99 percent, or $28,092, total package increase last week. Of this total amount, supervisors will get a 3.3 percent salary increase and hourly staff will receive a 50 cent per-hour increase.