FARGO (KFGO) – The Fargo School Board unanimously approved a new negotiated contract and retroactive pay for the district’s public school teachers Monday morning. The contract as negotiated with the Fargo Education Association represents a base salary increase of 8.97% in the first year of the two-year agreement.
Board member Seth Holden led the Board’s Negotiations Committee for the 2023-2025 contract. He said the two parties met 20 times between February and June without reaching an agreement and that salary and teacher workdays were the primary sources of contention.
A mediation panel and fact-finding commission assisted in bringing the sides together between August and October, and on October 11, the Board and the FEA were finally able to find accord. FEA’s membership approved the contract Friday.
Board member Jim Johnson said he had concerns about the Negotiations Committee’s recommendation to approve the contract with retroactive pay included.
“This adds additional burden and expense to the District and it’s not required. It’s certainly a gift from the Board to our teachers,” Johnson said. “My ask to the FEA going forward is: please petition earlier. There is no reason we cannot get this done in a timely manner. Even if we had to go to fact-finding, we could have a contract in place for the start of the school year. Instead of petitioning to start in January or February, maybe think about doing it in the fall so we don’t ever have to have this retroactive again because quite frankly, if it comes to me in the future, I won’t be supporting retroactive payment. ”
Board member Greg Clark said the base salary in the prior agreement was $43,493 and with the 2023-2025 contract that amount will increase to $47,393.
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