Teachers’ salaries, work hours and evaluations will be a few of the topics hashed out in negotiations between the Lawrence school district and the local teachers union in coming weeks.

Negotiators on both sides met for the first time Monday to discuss the district’s teacher contract, and they will meet biweekly until May 16. Free State High School science teacher David Reber, who is the teachers’ lead negotiator, said that the main issue is salary, but that the school funding issues in the state affect how much teacher pay can improve.

“The climate the way it is in Kansas right now is not very conducive to getting much as far as improvement in that regard, but we do survey all of our bargaining unit every year and that’s always the number one thing,” he said.

But, Reber said, there are several other issues that the contract covers, such as teacher workload, planning time and hours before and after school, that make a difference.

“And so we’re always looking to do what we can in those areas as well, especially when there’s not a lot of money to bargain with,” he said. “Just try to make it so people aren’t overworked.”

The contract talks began with a report on the district’s fringe benefits, with further discussion to include teacher pay, hours and evaluation. The district’s fringe benefits include health, dental and vision insurance, and rates are renewed annually as part of the teacher contract, said Anna Stubblefield, director of human resources and lead negotiator for the district. The fringe benefit committee presented a report Monday, which Stubblefield said had good news.

“We actually had a very positive rate renewal,” Stubblefield said. “…There won’t be an increase in the cost of benefits next year. So actually, if the teams agree to it, we can get a better plan for those on the core plan at the same price.”

Committees are made up of representatives of the teachers union, Lawrence Education Association, as well as district and building administrators. At next week’s negotiation meeting, the Evaluation Committee and the Elementary Plan-Time Committee will both present reports, Stubblefield said.

As for topics that may be sticking points in negotiations, Stubblefield said it was hard to say before seeing the committee reports. Negotiations regarding teacher pay will also depend largely on changes to the school funding formula made by the Kansas Legislature, she said.

Last week, Kansas lawmakers passed and sent to Gov. Sam Brownback a school funding equity bill that supporters hope will satisfy the Kansas Supreme Court. The Supreme Court declared parts of the current funding system unconstitutional in February, and said it will close Kansas schools next school year unless lawmakers fix it.

Stubblefield was named the incoming assistant superintendent of business and operations on Monday, making her lead negotiator for the district.

The two sides will meet again on Monday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at district offices, 110 McDonald Drive. Following Monday’s meeting, negotiators have three additional sessions scheduled.