DANVILLE — There is one thing labor and management in any local school district can agree on: It’s a rotten climate in which to negotiate.

Uncertain state funding has led to uncharted waters for all involved and each district has taken its own distinct path maneuvering through it.

The catch phrase has been, “Hopefully, things will improve,” but no one seems to be counting on that happening anytime soon — and they’re adjusting negotiating tactics to reflect the uncertainty.

Georgetown-Ridge Farm is the only district in the county that offered a multi-year deal this year — something both sides say they are thankful for, but something that could also prove risky for either should the climate change drastically during that period.

They brokered a deal in June after talking since January of the previous year.

“If you make a one-year contract,” said Geo-RF Superintendent Greg Irwin, “then you’re into the negotiating process all the time; and we felt like a two-year contract didn’t give everyone the protection they wanted.”

He admitted state funding uncertainty made a three-year deal risky because of the possibility it could get worse — but the district’s team felt they had enough information to offer it.

Mark Wright, who leads the Geo-RF Education Association, which represents the teachers, said the multi-year deal was a hedge against tough economic times in the near future — but to get the salary bump, teachers had to concede a higher share of insurance costs.

“We tried the best we could to come to a fair deal for both sides,” he said. “It’s not perfect, but we were satisfied. Our negotiations basically went well — we got through it.”

Irwin said a deal would not have been struck if not for the willingness of both sides to move.

“We would not have been able to give raises at all if it wasn’t for that,” he said.

Irwin said the three-year deal would allow the district to concentrate on classroom issues.

“It’s a lot better when you know what the expectations are going to be,” Irwin said, “but we’ve kept an open dialogue throughout. It’s a very difficult time to negotiate a contract, but at the end of the day we have to get up and work with one another every day.”

In Oakwood, officials decided against a long-term deal this year, but did agree in July to a 2.75 percent “flat” salary increase for employees.

“I don’t think anyone wants to tie themselves down,” said Oakwood Superintendent Keven Forney, “but nobody likes to (negotiate) on an every-year basis. The tone of our talks has always been positive.”

To get the salary increase, teachers did have to make concessions on insurance costs.

According to Wesley Miller, president of the Oakwood Education Association, teachers will for the first time be asked to pay a portion of their insurance — which adds up to more than $500. He said the exchange was nearly a wash, especially when initial discussions had included a salary freeze.

“That was that talk back in March,” he said, when most districts in the state slashed staffs funded with state money.

Oakwood eventually added back cut positions but looked to extracurricular, line-item cuts and early retirements for cost-savings, according to Forney, and dipped into school reserves. Georgetown-Ridge Farm’s district followed a similar course.

As it stands, several assistant coaching positions at Oakwood were eliminated and freshman sports programs were turned into self-funded or intramural activities.

“We’ll just see how it goes,” Forney said. “If state aid comes through, we’ll be in a stable position. Maybe next spring we’ll have to come back and make some tough decisions.”

“We’re always optimistic that things will get better,” added Miller.

Wright said the key for both sides is to never take their eyes off the goal: To educate children.

“You’ve just got to keep talking and keep your lines of communication going,” he said. “I hope they can resolve that problem (in Danville District 118).”