Stillwater Area Public Schools and Nutrition Services began negotiations for the 2025-2027 contract on February 10, 2026.
Meeting 1 - 2/10/26 - The Nutrition Negotiations team presented ten items for consideration.
Nutrition Services Proposals
Negotiations Meeting 2/10/2026
Wage Increase: The team proposed a percentage increase to the wage schedule.
Retirement: The team proposed a sick leave payout upon retirement
Holiday Pay: Change paid Memorial Day to Martin Luther King Day (1st choice) or Presidents Day (2nd choice). Add a floating holiday.
Insurance: The team proposed changes to insurance premiums
Retro Pay: Would like retro pay from July 1, 2025 to the current contract, paid in a separate check
Longevity Pay Increase: The team proposed increases to the hourly longevity pay.
SAHS Manager: The team proposed changes to increase the pay difference between managers and assistant managers.
Assistant Managers: The team proposed adding Assistant Managers to secondary schools and larger elementary schools
Discretionary Leave: The team proposed an increase to discretionary days
The team would like to have a discussion about revising the pay scales either now or in the future. Would like to see Elementary and Secondary managers and employees for both, more aligned.
Meeting 2 - 3/25/26 - The District Negotiations team responded to Nutrition Services proposals with costing information by proposal.
Meeting 3 - 4/8/26 - The District Negotiations team presented seven language proposals. The Nutrition Services team presented an additional item regarding substitute rates.
District Proposals for Negotiations between ISD 834 & Nutrition Services
Meeting 3 - 4/8/2026
1. The district proposes adding professional development days to the work year.
2. The district is interested in managers, assistants and back-up managers to obtaining a MN Certified Food Protection Manager’s License and keeping it current throughout employment.
3. The district proposes insurance language in alignment with the 2025-26 MOA. This is language that has been agreed upon across all units.
4. The district proposes to eliminate the Income Protection benefit in lieu of MN Paid Leave and reduce the elimination period of LTD.
5. The district proposes the following changes to Article IX.
- Update/shorten the posting timeline to align with the MOA.
- Update language for emergency closings.
- Eliminate the requirement of health exams
6. The district proposes to eliminate short term leave without pay.
7. Appendix A - 2025-2027 Nutrition Services Salary Schedules - language that defines credit for years of service for placement on the wage schedule.
Meeting 4 - 4/28/26
At this meeting the Nutrition Services team declined to offer responses to the district’s proposals until after they receive a financial proposal from the district.
The District presented proposals on the following items at this meeting:
Financials: The district made a financial proposal that included wage schedule increases and changes to the structure of the wage schedule.
Longevity: The district included increases to the longevity pay schedule as part of the total package.
Insurance: The district re-affirmed its interest in adding the insurance MOA language to the contract and proposed that the effective dates of insurance coverage are adjusted to align with the insurance plan year.
The Nutrition Services team proposed the following items of interest at this meeting:
Substitute Manager Rate: A revision to their earlier interest was shared.
Retro Pay: The team offered a revision to their original interest.
New - 403b Contribution: The team expressed interest in increasing the 403b matching contribution in year 2
Longevity Pay: The team shared an additional interest in modifying longevity pay by adding longevity pay at 5+ years of service.
