Nampa contract talks head to mediation

Nampa administrators and union negotiators are about $1 million apart in contract talks.

This week, a federal mediator will try to help the two parties close the gap.

Mediation sessions are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, with salaries a key sticking point.

The district has proposed a 1 percent pay raise. Some newly hired teachers would make $33,400, the state’s minimum teacher salary. For teachers who have been working at the minimum salary, the district proposes a raise to $34,000. The maximum teacher salary would be $56,264.

The Nampa Education Association has proposed a 4.5 percent teacher pay raise, with a minimum salary of $34,172. Teacher salaries would top out at $58,214.

The district’s new budget year began on July 1. While negotiations continue, most Nampa teachers are frozen at their 2015-16 salaries. The sole exception are teachers making the state’s minimum salary, which was increased during the 2016 legislative session.

When a 2016-17 agreement is reached, teachers would receive retroactive pay raises dating back to July 1, district spokeswoman Allison Westfall said.

The mediation sessions are scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. at district offices, 619 S. Canyon St., Nampa. The sessions are open to the public, but no public comment will be taken.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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