16 school districts likely missed contract deadline

by Tim Pugmire, Minnesota Public Radio,
Tom Weber, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — The statewide teachers union said 16 Minnesota school districts likely missed a midnight deadline for settling teacher contracts without penalty. Education Minnesota should have the final number later on Wednesday.

State law penalizes districts $25 per student if teacher contracts aren't resolved by the end of the day on January 15th.

Education Minnesota president Tom Dooher said the deadline pushes negotiators to finish their work on time. But during a news conference Tuesday, Dooher explained that rising health insurance costs and low state funding levels have made bargaining difficult this year.

"One hundred forty seven locals and school districts requested outside assistance from a mediator this year, versus 111 last time. Mediation has been used more widely this year because finances are so tight, and that the districts and unions believe that a third party is sometime the only way that sides can keep talking," said Dooher.

Dooher said none of the 16 districts appears to be heading toward a strike.

Here's a list of the distrists still without contracts:

ACGC

Albert Lea

Carlton

Clinton Graceville

East Central

Fairbault

Hendricks

Houston

Hutchinson

Ivanhoe

McGregor

Menahga

Red Lake Falls

St. Cloud

St. Louis County

Waconia

Education Minnesota said Albert Lea missed the deadline, but since the local and district had already filed for arbitration, they will not incur the $25 per pupil penalty in state aid.

In some years, the Legislature has lifted the deadline. Here's a look at the number of late districts and the total penalties they incurred.

YEAR DISTRICTS PENALTIES

2006 11 $345,101

2000 5 $109,482

1996 16 $679,328

1994 17 $832,989

1992 11 $238,241

1990 5 $366,127

---- The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Broadcast Dates

• Morning Edition, 01/15/2008, 7:20 a.m.