On June 4, the School District of Rhinelander’s Employee Relations Committee (ERC) and the Professional Employee Negotiation Committee of the Rhinelander Education Association (REA) reached a tentative agreement for base wage increases for professional employees for the 2012-13 school year.

Pending school board approval and ratification by the REA, the agreement provides for a 2.6 percent salary increase for each professional employee.

“We are very pleased with the efficiency of the negotiations and the cooperative spirit that was shown, especially in these difficult financial times,” said Kelli Jacobi, incoming school superintendent.

When asked about the delay in getting started with the negotiations process, assistant superintendent Dave Wall said, “Based upon the advice from legal counsel and clarification from the courts on legal challenges surrounding Act 10, we were in a holding pattern. As the legal landscape became more clear, it was the desire of our board of education to begin the negotiation process.”

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is typically used as the basis for professional employee wage increases. The 2012-13 CPI is 3.16 percent, yet the REA has agreed to a 2.6 percent increase. The ERC and REA are scheduled to meet again on June 10 at 7 p.m. in the administrative center’s professional development center to discuss the 2013-14 base wages.

“I look forward to continuing the cooperative relationship we established yesterday and in reaching an amicable agreement in a short amount of time,” said Jacobi.