Negotiators for the school board and the Cass Lake Education Association (CLEA) met for the 7th time on August 28, 2025. District negotiators entered into caucus (a closed door discussion) to work out details of the counter proposal they would offer to teachers. Once back into the full meeting, the district proposed the following:
District Health Insurance Contribution: Family $1,376; Single+1 $1,050 and Single at $980. The current contract language has the district paying 100% of the cost of a single plan. The dollar amount cost through January 1 is at $930. This would allow for more precise budgeting and cost controls.
Severance Language: The district would agree to include the proposed language that would provide a sick leave buy out at the full substitute teacher rate of pay including all bonuses, for those retiring with 20+ years of service. The district would then require language that would sunset that benefit for those hired after September 1, 2025.
A 2% increase to salary in year 1 and another 2% increase to salary in year two for all cells in the salary schedule was offered. This is in addition to the cost of step advancements, which is at a little over 1% per year. This is in alignment with the adopted budget.
The district declined to reduce the number of student attendance days, but was willing to decrease the number of teacher days under the contract, from 181 to 179 work days
CLEA’s negotiators then entered into caucus. Upon return, they expressed that they felt a settlement was within reach, just not at that time. They then stated that they would be filing for mediation with the state. Negotiations on those parts of the contract will halt until mediation is scheduled. The group did agree to meet on October 27, 2025 at 4:00 to negotiate the Activities portion of the contract.