The Kalispell Tutors Federation has a new contract after more than a year of negotiations with Kalispell Public Schools.

School trustees approved a three-year contract Tuesday that included a limited pay increase for current tutors this year but no health insurance contribution until the 2014-15 school year. The new contract will affect 24 full-time employees.

It was decided that there would be no retroactive changes to the contract for the 2012-13 year.

One primary budget concern arose with the advent of the federal Affordable Care Act, which requires the district to provide health insurance to all employees.

The Kalispell Tutors Federation previously did not receive a health insurance contribution. Instead, the district provided more than $2,000 for each employee a year for medical expenses in the form of a flexible spending account.

In May, tutors and district staff addressed trustees during a board meeting when a preliminary budget was discussed. Tutors were concerned there would be reductions in personnel or programming if there was a budget shortfall when health insurance was implemented.

“Since the tutors have not taken raises for a period of two years, we will be able to budget appropriately for health insurance next year,” Superintendent Darlene Schottle said.

Although flexible spending account contributions will be eliminated in the 2013-14 school year, tutors who were employed prior to July 1 will receive an additional $1.65 per hour until the end of employment. Schottle said this amount equals the flexible spending contribution but will not be managed as a health benefit.

By the 2014-15 school year, the district will kick in a $525 monthly contribution for health insurance and benefits for staff who work more than 30 hours a week using Title I money.

Tutors also will receive a 1.5 percent increase to wages for the 2014-15 school year. Tutors with a bachelor’s degree may earn between $14.73 and $19.35 based on experience. Tutors who do not have a bachelor’s degree may earn between $14.46 and $19.08.

Tutors provide intervention and direct instruction to improve academic success in math and reading for at-risk students. Their pay is primarily funded through Title I with about 40 percent of general funds.

The school district plans to form a committee in the fall that will study the use of Title I money and tutors and make any recommendations for changes in the winter.

A pay increase for classified substitutes also was approved at Tuesday’s board meeting after a survey of 14 area districts determined that Kalispell Public Schools was on the low end of market competitiveness. Pay will be increased from $7.80 to $9 an hour. Classified substitutes include aides, tutors and food service workers. Wages for substitutes have not increased since 2009.

Trustees also approved increasing the district’s custodial substitute budget by $10,000 after the district overspent by $12,597 during the 2013-14 fiscal year.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].