There will be talk of salaries, fringe benefits, sick leave and the district’s early retirement plan this summer as Lawrence school district officials and teachers negotiate for the next school year.

6News video: Teachers, officials to continue salary negotiations

But an agreement likely will not come soon. Representatives for both sides could not say Thursday when they expected an agreement. They are hoping it will be before the start of the school year, said Al Gyles, a Free State High School teacher and head of the teachers’ negotiating team.

“We had a really good start, and I hope to continue the momentum,” Gyles said.

At a meeting Thursday, both sides exchanged lists of issues they want to address.

“Our hope is to move forward,” said Mary Rodriguez, the district’s lead negotiator.

The district, not teachers, raised the issue of early retirements.

“We just think it would be good to look at that article,” Rodriguez said.

The district spent $700,000 for early retirement for certified staff, such as teachers, in 2004-05. And district officials expect costs to rise. About 40 percent of certified staff are age 50 or older. In their list, district officials said they believed that money would better serve recruitment and retention efforts if used for salaries.