It was probably the school district's most well attended contract negotiations.

Seated before an audience of 250, the Coeur d'Alene School District finished up six weeks of teacher contract negotiations with the Coeur d'Alene Education Association union on Thursday.

After hours of discussion and constant caucusing, the two entities addressed $3.2 million in anticipated revenue shortfalls, and approved an important agreement about the future of educators' contracts.

"You were here. You saw an active and fair settlement was made amicably," said district Superintendent Hazel Bauman after the audience applauded the final decision.

Equally significant was that the compromises made at Woodland Middle School were in front of a standing-room only audience of teachers, staff and citizens. That was possible because of the Students Come First legislation, passed by the 2011 state Legislature, that requires teachers salary negotiations be conducted in open meetings.

The presence of so many educators likely affected the decision, wagered Skyway Elementary teacher Teri Hamilton.

"I do think the people who were here made a difference," Hamilton said.

Staff turned out en masse due to fears the entities might scrap the district master contract, she added, covering details like classroom size and teacher prep time.

"It is 40 years of work," Hamilton said of the contract that was begun decades ago. "People know it's more than dollars and cents, more than CEA members. It's affecting every district employee."

The major step of the evening was a memorandum of agreement the district and teacher representatives reached on the issue.

If the education and merit pay reforms under Students Come First are repealed this November, the two sides agreed, the district will reinstate the long-standing master contract.

The district wouldn't change any aspect of the contract, the MOU states, except to add newly approved salaries and benefits.

The two entities also addressed a projected budget gap next fiscal year. Sacrifices they agreed to included reducing the fund balance by $1 million, and lowering the district's health insurance contribution by 1 percent.

Hamilton said she attended every negotiation meeting to monitor the master contract status.

"This shows a joint effort to come to a good compromise," she said of the MOU.

She touted how the open meeting allowed staff to show solidarity.

"People can show support, instead of it being decided behind closed doors," Hamilton said.

Kris Hinz, Canfield Middle School teacher, said she attended out of fear that details like classroom sizes could be changed, affecting students' quality of education.

"It's about the kids. There are things in the master contract that really speak to that," Hinz said. "It's not about salary and benefits. Nobody gets into education to be rich."

After sitting in on Thursday's meeting, she considered the public negotiations to be very fair, she added, allowing everyone affected to take part.

"I do think it makes it very clear, transparent," Hinz said. "It's not secret."

Chris Inlow, a second grade teacher at Ramsey Elementary for 15 years, said she was relieved to see the bulk of the master contract would go unchanged, should the reforms be overturned.

Inlow was motivated to sit through the negotiations every week, she said, out of frustration that district teachers haven't seen a raise in 5 years.

"We want to be respected and valued," she said. "That's why we're all here."

Inlow wasn't sure if public meetings were for the best, though. She didn't enjoy being privy to all the discussions, she said.

"I think sometimes disrespectful comments about teachers can be very degrading," she said, declining to say who voiced condescending remarks.

Dave Eubanks, a 42-year teacher at Lakes Magnet Middle School, sat in because he had heard rumors of salary and benefit cuts.

"In 42 years, I can tell you teaching in public middle school has never been harder," he said, speaking of dysfunctional families and overwhelming class sizes. "All (cuts) would do is make a tough job harder."

He deemed it "fantastic" that teachers could sit in on the negotiations, he said, which he considered common sense.

"It should all be on the table for discussion and compromise," Eubanks said.

Chad Odenthal, a teacher at Woodland Middle School, said he has faith in the efforts of the CEA representatives, based on their surveys of teacher priorities.

He doesn't believe it's necessary to open negotiations to the public, he said, adding that he trusts union reps to fill him in on the details.

"Word had gotten out to be here in support," Odenthal said of why he attended. "When we're called upon, we usually show up."

Tim Sandford, music teacher at Lake City High School and a CEA representative, said he didn't resent negotiating before an audience.

"Having a public who can see it here, and be part of the process, it's healthy," he said.