The Lawrence Education Assn. is expected to introduce a proposal for increasing teacher salaries at a contract negotiations meeting Tuesday.

Meanwhile, representatives of teachers and school administration continue to spar over the district’s fringe and early retirement benefits – two issues that have long been a sticking point.

District negotiators want a fringe option that they say maintains current coverage levels.

LEA negotiators are pressing for the same plan, but they want the option that cuts the premium costs for employees with spouses and families.

District officials say they want to put all they money they can into salaries, while bargainers for the teachers say they consider fringe benefits part of the entire compensation package.

“Our preference was to address our problems that are causing us recruitment and retention issues,” said Sue Morgan, a board member and district negotiator.

District negotiators have continued to make a case for reviewing the district’s early retirement benefits.

Teachers can retire early if they’ve been in the district for 15 years and if the sum of their age and years of experience is 85. Teachers eligible for early retirement receive pensions, most in the $7,000 to $8,000 range per year for five years. They also receive health insurance for up to seven years. Teachers can take early retirement and work in another district.

District negotiators on Tuesday suggested eliminating the benefit for new employees who start in 2005-06. LEA reps balked at that plan and said they needed more time to consider the issue.

Cutting the benefit entirely is unacceptable, said Al Gyles, head of the teachers’ negotiating team.

The next meeting is set for Tuesday from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the district’s Educational Support and Distribution Center, 110 McDonald Drive.