RATHDRUM - The Lakeland Joint School District and Lakeland Education Association teachers' union have reached a tentative agreement that funds experience and education steps, but freezes base salaries.

The teachers are expected to vote on the proposal on Tuesday and the school board will consider it on June 11. About 250 full-time teachers will be covered with the contract.

When experience and education steps are given, some employees would not see any change in salary, Taggart said.

However, under the proposal, those teachers will see either a $360 or $480 per year increase, depending on where they are in the salary schedule.

"This is to ensure that, after four years of frozen salaries, people will see some increase," said Tom Taggart, the district's finance director.

This year the Legislature restored funding salary schedule steps.

"We felt it was important to pass this on to staff," Taggart said.

Salaries for non-certified staff have not been finalized, Taggart said.

"We plan on an increase of some amount," he said. "Most of our support positions are on a schedule with steps. They have been frozen for three years with no steps."

Taggart said a 2.55 percent increase in medical premiums and a 3.1 percent decrease in dental rates are proposed.

"The district will continue to pay the cost of a full-time employee's premium," Taggart said. "Small dependent coverage increases ($10-$15 per month, depending on the plan) will be paid by the employee."

No furlough days are included in the contract.

Taggart called negotiations between the district and LEA "civil and productive."

"We have worked to maintain a positive relationship with our teachers during these challenging times of change," he said.

Carrie Scozarro, LEA spokeswoman, said that while the union may not always agree with the district, especially regarding restoring teacher pay to levels prior to the recession, it respects the district's position.

"We've worked very diligently over the past five years to build and strengthen the relationship between LEA, administration districtwide and our wonderful board," Scozarro said. "Any successes we've had we've had by working together."

If no agreement is reached, the school board has until June 22 to impose its last best offer.