COEUR d'ALENE — The Coeur d'Alene Education Association wants a 3.5 percent salary increase for all certificated employees in the Coeur d'Alene School District.

The proposal, which also includes a stipulation that the district will assume costs associated with insurance rate increases, was presented Wednesday evening at the tail end of the second meeting between CEA negotiators and district officials attempting to come to an agreement on next year's contracts. According to Tim Sandford, lead negotiator for the CEA, the raises for certificated employees such as teachers and counselors are necessary to retain personnel as well as attract additional personnel to the growing district.

"The staff needs to know they're appreciated, and that you're at least trying to meet cost of living increases," Sandford said.

Sandford added that, because of sacrifices made in past negotiations, existing staff is making less than they did in 2009. According to the CEA's proposal, the increases in salary and assuming costs associated with insurance rate increases would cost the district approximately $1.593 million.

CEA negotiators also proposed a "longevity stipend," which would give teachers and other certificated personnel an additional $750 annually after working in the district for 20 years — an amount which, according to the proposal, would double at 25 years.

"I think it's important that we hold onto people and reward them for staying," Sandford said.

After a private caucus to discuss the CEA's proposal, Trina Caudle, the district's director of secondary education who is serving as lead negotiator, began her response by thanking the CEA for beginning the salary negotiation process with its proposal. However, Caudle said their proposal has additional fiscal impact on the district and, if the district extends similar raises to employees who do not have certification, the overall cost would be approximately $2.6 million.

Caudle also added the CEA's proposal could hinder the district's plan to hire new teachers and reduce classroom sizes. She encouraged those on the other side of the negotiating table to look at overall value rather than just salary when assessing whether the district is providing optimal work conditions for its teachers.

The response from the CEA was that it has discussed the overall picture with teachers throughout the district prior to presenting its proposal, and has been consistently told educators are hurting financially.

According to Caudle, district officials will take time to review the numbers and look carefully at the CEA proposal before the next negotiation meeting on June 17.