As Kalispell Public Schools officials work on a preliminary budget, the district has yet to settle with one union, The Kalispell Tutor Federation.

The federal budget sequestration and Affordable Care Act have impacted negotiations and tutors are concerned that any budget shortfall will reduce personnel or programming.

Before Tuesday’s school board meeting at Kalispell Middle School, tutors, district staffers and community members lined the hallway holding signs in support of tutors.

Their action was to raise awareness and to encourage board members to retain all personnel and programming as they work on the budget and settle the union’s contract, Federation President Alex Schaeffer said.

Currently, there are 27 full-time and part-time tutors working in the district, according to Superintendent Darlene Schottle. Tutors provide intervention and direct instruction in math and reading for at-risk students. They work primarily at the elementary level but also at the high school level to increase academic success.

Tutors have set a goal of raising reading levels by 1.5 grade levels per semester, according to Sylvia Heselwood, who oversees the reading intervention program. She said during Tuesday’s meeting that reading levels this semester have risen by 1.75 grade levels.

Some Kalispell Education Association members stood with tutors Tuesday as a show of solidarity, teachers union President Mike Thiel said. He said the service tutors provide to teachers and students is invaluable.

Hedges School teacher Mary Lloyd understands the value of tutors, since she was a tutor for seven years before becoming a teacher.

“I know that I really worked hard as a tutor and I saw how it helped kids,” Lloyd said. “Now I’m on the other side of the classroom, and I’m so appreciative of everything the tutors do.”

Federal budget cuts have reduced the Kalispell district’s Title I funding by $118,867. Title I provides funding to schools with high percentages of students from low-income families to ensure they meet state standards and receive extra academic support and services.

Tutors’ salaries primarily are funded through Title I.

The Affordable Care Act also affects this union.

Under their current contract, tutors do not receive health insurance benefits. Instead, each employee received more than $2,000 for the year in the form of a flexible spending arrangement for medical expenses. What is under negotiation is whether to include both a Flexible Spending Account with required insurance in addition to a possible pay raise.

For six other unions, the district has negotiated a $525 monthly medical benefit contribution per employee and has settled on 1.5-percent salary increases. A 1.5-percent pay increase has been assumed for tutors — but not finalized — for budgeting purposes. Medical benefits are not factored in.

“Our concern is how will we provide for the additional costs if it is more than we are currently paying,” Schottle said.

Schottle said she would figure in any available end-of-year money and make recommendations on any reductions or additions to the budget at a May 28 board work session.

“I’ll bring back to you a balanced budget. We are still in process of negotiations. We have a tutor proposal and we have a district proposal. Right now, both of those proposals have a shortfall that is not covered with our current budget,” Schottle said.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.