Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Terry DuReiís blood pressure may have been rising last Thursday night. And for good reason.

DuRei, president of the Forest Lake Education Association, could only sit and listen as the school board approved mutually agreed administrative contracts that will freeze salaries in 2005-2006.

It was clear, DuRei said later, the decision was putting pressure on the teachersí union.

ìIn my own mind they (board and administration) are putting pressure on the teachers.î DuRei said in an interview.

DuRei said FLEA negotiators have met with Lynn Steenblock, superintendent, but have come to no agreement on any kind of pay freeze for the first year of a new two-year contract. In fact, DuRei said, FLEA has rejected the notion of a pay or step freeze of any kind.

ìI donít see anything to change it,î DuRei said of the FLEA decision last fall. ìIt wasnít an easy decision for us to go in and say we wonít participate.î

DuRei said FLEA was committed to protecting the needs of young teachers coming into the district and those now on staff.

With the districtís staff paid below the metro average, it is difficult to expect members to accept a wage freeze, DuRei said.

ìYoung teachers need the step increases,î he said.

ìItís my position to take care of all 500 teachers,î DuRei said. ìWe still think it is the right thing to do.î

The FLEA official said the association carefully weighed the district proposal. With an excess operating levy vote set to go before voters in the fall, DuRei said FLEA could have taken a pay freeze with an offer of no staff cuts. That would have saved some jobs now but DuRei said it was far from determined what the second-year settlement terms might be for teachers.

Teachers are now in the final year of a two-year contract that expires on June 30. Formal negotiations on a new contract have yet to begin, he said.

ìWe were offered the same thing,î DuRei said. ìHad we taken the offer, there would have been no teachers cut the first year.î

But in light of the levy uncertainty and the current pay rates, DuRei said the association could not accept the pay freeze proposal. Such a decision sends a bad message to any young teacher trying to get started in a district like Forest Lake, he said.

ìWhat a terrible way to try to hire and retain good young teachers,î DuRei said.

Not the bad guy

DuRei said he hopes the public, and parents of students in particular, donít see FLEA as the bad guy in the budget process. Thatís not the case, he says.

While FLEA is not willing to go along with a one-year pay freeze, DuRei said it is not FLEAís intent to divide the district or pit employee groups against each other.

When the district has gone out for excess levy votes the past three times, he said FLEA members have worked hard on behalf of students and donated funds to help sponsor Vote Yes campaigns.

If anything, DuRei said he hopes parents of students will understand the lack of support that is coming from St. Paul and state lawmakers.

Districts across the state have been handcuffed by no new basic state increases the past two years with slim chances for any increase next year.

ìThe state has done nothing (to help with funding),î DuRei said. ìWe need financial support from the state.î

He urged the public to contact state officials to lobby for new funding from the state.

DuRei said he didnít expect any new action on FLEAís part on the district proposal. He said no negotiation sessions have been called and nothing is being planned any time soon with the district administration.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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