Idaho Falls, Idaho — Contract negotiations between the Idaho Falls School District and its teachers union have collapsed for the third consecutive year, with both sides set to enter mediation after roughly 15 hours of talks produced no agreement on teacher salaries.
Superintendent Karla LaOrange, who joined the district in 2023, confirmed that the district’s board of trustees requested the move to mediation, saying the board wants updated contracts delivered to teachers as quickly as possible. “They felt that mediation would be a good way to help us get there, so that we can have an updated salary schedule and get updated contracts out to our teachers,” LaOrange said of the board’s decision.
Salary Dispute at the Center of Stalemate
LaOrange said the dispute is rooted in financial disagreements. Idaho Falls Education Association President Jess Watrous said the district’s offer included no base salary increase, offering only career-ladder step advancements rather than a raise to the underlying pay scale.
Watrous said three straight years of failed negotiations have created distance between district leadership, the board, and classroom teachers — and that she is uncertain how to bridge the divide. She expressed frustration that the shift to mediation removes the process from public view. “It’s very frustrating that we’re in our third year and we’re going to mediation,” Watrous said, adding that the closed-door nature of mediation limits transparency for teachers and the public.
Watrous said union members arrived at the final negotiation session with multiple financial proposals prepared and were caught off guard when the district requested mediation rather than continuing to bargain. “We thought there would be some of that back and forth,” she said. “That’s what negotiations are — we can bend here, can you bend there?”
Mediation Process and Past Precedent
Mediation sessions are scheduled to begin Thursday morning. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service will provide services to both parties at no cost. The agency offers free dispute-resolution assistance to labor and management organizations across the country.
LaOrange noted that last year’s process was lengthy — roughly 29 hours of direct negotiations followed by 47 hours of mediation before the parties reached a contract. Despite the difficult track record, she characterized the experience positively from the district’s perspective. “I’d say that things are going well and have been positive,” she said. “I know mediation sounds like it’s not, but it’s been a positive experience for the district.”
Watrous said union members are not opposed to mediation in principle but are concerned about what a third consecutive impasse signals. She emphasized that teachers should not be placed in a position where they feel compelled to take second jobs or perform additional work without added pay to make ends meet. Despite the tensions, Watrous said she does not believe the superintendent is acting in bad faith. “I want to believe the good in people,” she said, suggesting LaOrange is acting in what she sees as the district’s best interest, even if the outcomes have strained teacher relations.
For students watching the district navigate another year of labor uncertainty, initiatives like hands-on STEM career programs at Idaho National Laboratory serve as a reminder of the value Idaho places on preparing young people for high-skill careers — an outcome that depends heavily on retaining experienced, motivated teachers in classrooms.
What Comes Next
Mediation will proceed privately, without the public access that formal negotiations allow. If the two sides reach agreement through the federal mediator, updated salary schedules and contracts would then be presented to teachers. Should mediation fail to produce a deal, the district and union would face additional procedural steps under Idaho labor law. Both parties have stated that reaching a resolution in the best interest of students remains the shared goal.