Sign of things to come?

The Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial School Board formally approved its new two-year teacher contract about two weeks ago. According to numbers compiled by the Minnesota School Boards Association, LCWM's two-year increase of 2.7 percent is among the lowest in the state.

But the question is whether LCWM will be a bellwether for surrounding districts.

The negotiating table is a complicated place this year. Union negotiators know that pushing too hard for raises may result in deeper staff cuts when the budget axe falls in a few months; plus, Gov. Pawlenty has already warned that schools may be the first in line when the state deals with its own $1 billion shortfall in the next session.

The Mankato Area School District is still negotiating its teacher contract. Officials have given no indication of how deep this year's cuts might go (last year's amounted to $3 million), but they have been candid in saying another round is highly likely this year. 

One thing, however, is for sure: the depth and breadth of upcoming budget cuts are likely to hinge, at least in large part, on teachers contracts.

And I'd be willing to bet there are a lot of district's hoping for contracts like LCWM's.