Negotiations continue between school district and unions

Published 5:11 pm Friday, October 19, 2018

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District met last week with the Kenai Peninsula Education Association and the Kenai Peninsula Educational Support Association to continue negotiations on a contract for district teachers and staff.

Teachers started the school year in August without a contract, although they did receive movement on their respective salary schedules. Pegge Erkeneff, communications liaison for the school district, said Wednesday’s meeting included conversations about health care.

The district and the associations are waiting to hear a health care premium quote from Public Education Health Trust, an outreach program to assist in the procurement of affordable health care options for Alaska’s public school districts.

At the negotiations, the school district offered a supposal, or one-time offer, to the associations, which was rejected. The associations, in turn, offered the district a package proposal, which is an offer that must be taken in its entirety.

David Brighton, president of the Kenai Peninsula Education Association, said the package proposal expires Oct. 31. He said another meeting between the associations and the district has not been planned.

“In theory, it could happen quickly,” Brighton said.