Certificated Employee Salary and Benefits

The board shall establish salary schedules and benefits for certificated employees’ positions keeping in mind the financial condition of the school district, the education and experience of the certificated employee, the educational philosophy of the school district, and other factors deemed relevant by the board.  It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation to the board annually regarding the salary schedule and benefits.

The salary schedule and benefits shall be subject to discussion and modification through the collective bargaining process with recognized bargaining units.  The requirements regarding salaries and benefits stated in a duly ratified Negotiated Agreement between the board and a recognized bargaining unit shall be followed.

Certificated employees of the district shall have the right to form, join and participate in the activities of organizations of their choosing for the purpose of representation of all matters of employment relations, but no certificated employee shall be compelled to join such an organization.

The following timelines shall be in effect for the annual negotiations process preceding the contract year in question:

  1. On or before September 1 the certificated and instructional employees’ collective bargaining agent shall request recognition as bargaining agent.
  2. The governing board shall respond to such request not later than October 1.
  3. On or before November 1 negotiations shall begin.
  4. On or before February 8 if an agreement is not reached, the parties shall submit to mandatory mediation or fact finding as ordered by the commission unless the parties mutually agree in writing to forgo mandatory mediation or fact finding.
  5. On or before March 25 or within twenty-five days after the certification of the amounts to be distributed to each local system and each school district, whichever occurs last in time, negotiations, mediation, and fact finding shall end.
  6. If an agreement has not been achieved on or before the date in item 5 above, either party may, within fourteen days after such date, file a petition with the commission to resolve the dispute.
  7. The commission shall render a decision on or before September 15.

There shall be no fewer than four negotiations meetings between the certificated and instructional employees’ collective bargaining agent and the governing board’s bargaining agent prior to mediation, unless the parties agree to a new negotiated agreement. Either party may seek a bargaining order as provided in statute at any stage in the negotiations. In seeking a bargaining order, the commission shall provide the parties with the names of five individuals qualified to serve as the resolution officer.  If the parties cannot agree on an individual, each party shall alternately strike names, with the remaining individual serving as the resolution officer.

The resolution officer may:

  1. determine whether the issues are ready for hearing and settlement;
  2. identify for resolution terms and conditions of employment that are in dispute and which were negotiated in good faith but upon which no agreement was reached;
  3. accept terms and conditions;
  4. schedule hearings;
  5. prescribe rules of conduct for conferences;
  6. order additional mediation if necessary;
  7. take any other action which may aid in resolution of the dispute; and
  8. consult with an interested outside party only with the concurrence of all parties.

Neb. Statute 48-811, 816, 818

Approved:  July 13, 1992

Revised:  July 11, 2005

Revised:  November 12, 2012