C-I TEACHERS SETTLE

The Crosby Ironton School Board and C-I teacher's union settled on a new two-year contract Monday night, about a day ahead of the deadline Tuesday night at midnight. Superintendent Jamie Skjeveland said the contract calls for a 5% total package increase but most of the increase comes at the end of the contract. Skjeveland said what he didn't want to result was one party "whistling Dixie and the other hanging their head, singing the Blues." He said he congratulated both school board members and union negotiators for their ability and leadership to work collaboratively with each other to get to a resolution. Skjeveland said the settlement would work in with the rest of the school's financial challenges. The board had been told it would have to cut $1.3-Million from next year's budget but the board decided to trim roughly $750,000 and reduce the school's emergency fund reserve even more.