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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

CdA educators accept six-day pay cut

From Staff Reports

The Coeur d’Alene Education Association has agreed to a six-day pay cut, or 3.2 percent decrease in salary, to help save jobs as the school district prepares to trim nearly $5 million from its 2010-’11 budget, officials announced this week.

The pay cut was negotiated after the Coeur d’Alene School District declared a financial emergency earlier this year. Officials said the change will save the district about $1.2 million.

“In my 30 years with the Coeur d’Alene School District, I cannot recall that the district ever had to impose a pay cut,” Superintendent Hazel Bauer said. “It saddens me that we cannot compensate our hard-working staff to the level they deserve. The negotiated settlement was a tough decision for both the school board and Coeur d’Alene Education Association.”

The agreement has a contingency, according to a district new release, that if unexpected funds come in, the money would go to reinstate furlough days, offset any need for staff reductions, and reinstate degree stipends and possible further compensation reinstatements.