KARNS CITY — Teachers in the Karns City School District have asked for state intervention to help them reach a labor contract with the district.

The Karns City Education Association said in a statement Tuesday it asked for a fact finder to step in. The fact finder is a neutral third party who listens to the positions of both the school board and teachers and creates a proposed contract.

"Fact finding can bring about a new contract that is fair to the school board, the KCEA and the community. It's an option available to both parties and the KCEA felt it in the best interest of the students and community to request fact-finding at this time," said teacher Chris Bellis, who is chief negotiator for the teachers, in the statement.

There are 123 teachers in the district of about 1,850 students. The previous contract, which expired June 30, was for five years.

According to the teachers, five issues remain unresolved in the negotiations, which began a year ago. They are length of contract, health care, salary, non-use of health insurance, and retirement incentive.

The teachers want a five-year contract, while the board is offering a three-year contract, according to Tom Breth, negotiator for the school board.

The average teacher salary in the district is $52,812.

Breth said the school board is offering to increase starting salaries and give each teacher a salary increase of $1,900 per year. The teachers have asked for a 4.4 percent increase each year.

Under the board's plan, a teacher making the average salary would make $54,712 in the current school year; $56,612 in 2010-11; and $58,512 in the final year of the contract.

Under the teacher's plan, that same teacher would make $55,135 in the current year; $57,561 in 2010-11; $60,094 in 2011-12; $62,738 in 2012-13; and $65,499 in the final year.

Health care benefits are non-negotiable with the district's health care provider, but the district has asked for the teachers to contribute more toward premiums.

The board is asking for teachers to pay 7.25 percent of the premium. Teachers have offered to pay $10 a month this year and next; $15 a month in 2011-12; and $20 a month in 2013-14 and 2013-14.

Teachers currently pay $10 per month for their health care coverage.

Other issues include early retirement benefits and a benefit paid to married couples who are both employed as teachers. In the current contract, one spouse signs up for health insurance and the other spouse accepts a $3,600 annual health insurance waiver payment.

While teachers are asking for benefits to extend 10 years after retirement for both the employee and spouse, the board has offered to extend benefits for eight years for the individual or four years for the retiree and spouse.

However, Breth said that portion of the contract will only be valid if the district closes one of its three elementary buildings.

Once the state Bureau of Mediation grants the teachers' request, a fact finder will be assigned.

Once a fact finder is named, that person should take about 60 days to come up with a proposed contract.