Lawrence teachers are edging closer to resolving a contract dispute with the Lawrence school district, but negotiations stalled Monday night in a last-bid effort to shore up talks before a federal mediator meets with the two sides Wednesday.

They met for more than four hours at district headquarters, 100 McDonald Drive, in hopes of nailing down issues that sidelined negotiations in June.

Though the key issues of salary raises and elementary planning time remain in limbo, the negotiations yielded agreements on several previously unresolved points.

“I think tonight was productive,” said the district’s chief negotiator, Frank Harwood. “We were here to resolve a number of items. Tonight, I think, will help us have a better chance of settling with the mediator.”

Among the resolved issues was the district’s contributions to retirement funds. The two sides agreed to allow teachers who qualify for retirement benefits in the next six years to be 100 percent vested in the district’s post-employment compensation plan.

Also settled were questions on employee discipline and extra duty. A plan to have an extra day of professional development in 2009-10 was nixed.

But the two major issues of salary and planning time will be addressed Wednesday.

The night began with the two sides about $1 million apart on salary. In June, negotiators for the Lawrence Education Association asked for $1.85 million in salary, while the district offered about $825,000. Part of those funds would compensate teachers for planning time, an unacceptable term for LEA.

Monday’s initial offering proposed a salary increase of $1,000,363, to which LEA proposed $1.25 million. The negotiations ended after the district countered with an offer of $1.16 million, as well as a planning stipend of $162,000.

“There’s no way, shape or form we can go for a stipend,” said Dan Karasek, a member of the LEA team.

Rather, LEA hopes substitute teachers, called content specialists, can take classroom reins for one day in the second semester while teachers take time to plan. But district negotiators said it may be too late to take that step.

Also unresolved is the issue of compensation for academic credits some teachers are required to earn.

The district negotiators pledged to pay teachers $50 per credit hour, but those funds would not continue to be paid if a teacher voluntarily moved to another position within the school district.

LEA reduced its demands from $250 per credit hour to $50, but its negotiators worried teachers would be sacrificing too much by losing that compensation.

“The dollar amount is close, but the way it’s written is a big concern,” Karasek said.

There are also questions remaining about teacher leave, with LEA proposing a change allowing teachers to take five consecutive days off with prior approval. The district declined to accept this measure, instead offering three consecutive days off.

Though the meeting was contentious at times – Karasek said LEA was “insulted” by the district’s offer at one point – both sides agreed the night was productive, and they are closer to an agreement than ever.

“We might be saying the same thing and not even know it,” said LEA’s Carolyn Klote.

The mediator meets with negotiators at 5 p.m. Wednesday.