BETTENDORF, Iowa — Bettendorf teachers with the Bettendorf Educator's Association union are upset over the school district's offer for the 2024-2025 school year contract.
The proposed deal would raise teacher base pay by $350, but teachers would also pay 5% more for health insurance.
At the Wednesday, April 24 board meeting, the board did not vote on any contract, but staff and parents took the opportunity to voice their frustrations.
"If you have solutions for us on how we can increase our enrollment, that is very much of interest," board president Patrick Larkin said before opening the meeting to public comments.
"To retain and attract staff of this caliber, we have to offer comparable salary and benefits," paraeducator Sarah Schenk said. "I strongly ask that you consider the position you put our teaching staff in, when you continue to propose a pay structure that will lag behind every other area district."
Some employees like school nurse Kelly Cypher had solutions on where the money should come from. "The excuse the staff continue to hear is that our enrollment numbers are declining, but my question to you then, is why does our upper administration continue to grow," she said. "Fewer students should equal fewer upper administrators needed, which is exactly what we need to do."
Instructional coach Sheala Wentink suggested ways the board can address enrollment issues. "You want to increase enrollment? Offer what other districts don't. Smaller class sizes, specialized programming with staffing to support it," she said.
News 8 asked Larkin for comment on the negotiations, who said "We are working towards a solution that is sustainable to both sides."
The district and BEA will continue negotiations next week. The union said teacher contracts will expire at the end of June but did not say what teachers will do if a deal isn't made by then.