The Lakeland School District has reached a tentative agreement with the local teachers union that includes three furlough days and frozen salaries for the next school year.

Meanwhile, Post Falls and the union there have not reached a tentative deal, but are required to by Friday. The school board meets this morning at 7:30 at the district office to discuss the contract.

Under a new law, if teachers don't approve tentative agreements with a simple majority vote by Friday, school boards are required to implement their last best offer by June 22. In the past, mediation would occur and negotiations could last until the fall.

Lakeland Education Association members will vote on that district's proposal on Friday. The school board will consider it on Monday.

Lakeland's three furlough days, which applies to both teachers and administrators, represents $204,000.

There is a provision to repay furlough days if a sufficient amount of state surplus funds are received in July.

"The discussions went very well," said Tom Taggart, Lakeland's business director. "We stressed the need to continue to work together as we face both budget issues and the implementation of the reforms. I'm glad we left with a good working relationship."

Carrie Scozzaro, LEA's lead negotiator, said that while collaboration led to the tentative agreement, it will come at a cost.

"We did what we could to preserve staffing and minimize the impact on kids," she said. "That's the Lakeland way. But to say that there won't be a fallout is foolish. We're in jeopardy of losing good teachers who can make more money in other states. Public education is being affected by a different philosophy than what I agree with."

Lakeland changed insurance carriers and plans and will continue to pay the single rate for health and dental benefits.

Lakeland's total proposed budget for the next year is about $23.4 million, the third straight decline.

"A few years ago, we had more than $25 million with the same number of students, so that's a dramatic reduction," Taggart said.

In addition to cuts in state funding, districts are losing federal stimulus dollars that helped keep some staff employed over the past two years.

Taggart said the district will look into not replacing retirees, cutting hours with some positions and consolidating duties with others.

"We'll put off some hiring until September when we see what we have when the students come back," Taggart said.

A public hearing on Lakeland's proposed school budget will be at 7 p.m. June 20 at the district office.

Scozzaro said the negotiation meetings had a similar feel to previous years, even though they were open to the public this year under new laws.

"We had nobody attend any of the meetings, but I think we've been good over the past couple years making sure our contract is on the website and sharing information with the members and staff," she said. "I think that some try to make it out like it's a sacred deal, but it's simply not an issue."

At Post Falls, Superintendent Jerry Keane said furlough days and benefits costs are still being discussed between the union and the district.

"We were not far apart when we ended (Monday night)," Keane said. "We are close. However, we are running out of time."

There is a meeting between the district and union at 3:40 p.m. today at the high school.

Post Falls will hold a public hearing on its school budget on Monday at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

The district's upcoming budget is expected to be reduced by about $1.2 million - the third straight decrease - so job cuts are expected.

At a district budget workshop in April, maintaining support staff and class sizes were listed as priorities.

Officials from both districts said they are thankful for local voters supporting supplemental levies in recent years. Otherwise, the funding situation would be even worse.

The Coeur d'Alene district and the teachers union there ratified an agreement on Monday after a tentative deal was reached May 26.

A new state law restricts collective bargaining between teachers and school districts to salaries and benefits. Previously, class sizes, grievance procedures and teacher training and development plans were negotiated.