Potentially ending a stalemate since the start of the school year, Duneland teachers and the Duneland School Corporation have reached a tentative contract agreement.

The Duneland Teachers Association expects to outline the proposed contract at a meeting with its members on Jan. 26 and then vote to ratify it the next day. The Duneland School Board would then vote to ratify on March 3, said Duneland Superintendent Dirk Baer.

Neither side is revealing what’s been tentatively decided, citing the need to have a ratified contract in place before the details are publicly divulged.

DTA Co-Chairs Michele Bartels and Sharon McCasland characterized the tentative agreement as a compromise on both sides. Baer characterized the agreement as one “that’s very fair for the teachers” and within the financial means of the school corporation.

Baer did say that the contract would be a two-year agreement.

The Duneland teachers began the school year without a new contract, and after an impasse was declared, the DTA and the school board and administration turned to a mediator. The main concern for the DTA has been compensation; teachers say that Duneland has fallen behind in teacher pay and that the compensation levels are now among the lowest in the area.

Posted 2/11/2008