The union representing Denver Public Schools teachers declared a stalemate in negotiations with the district over salaries, benefits and teacher input into school-redesign issues that have affected lower-performing schools.
The next step is for the union, which represents about 4,000 teachers, and the district to agree on a mediator who will hammer out a deal for the 2007-08 contract year.
“They just did not seem willing to think creatively of how to come to an agreement,” union president Kim Ursetta said.
DPS Board president Theresa Peña said she was disappointed about the impasse. “DPS holds teachers’ compensation as a top priority, and we had hoped to continue with this important dialogue,” she said in a prepared statement.
Superintendent Michael Bennet said that over the past four years teachers have seen an average 21 percent pay increase in the district.
DPS proposed a 6.2 percent increase for 2007-08. But teachers said the offer would not cover the rising costs of health insurance and that those costs would actually equate to a 1.44 percent cost-of-living adjustment, Ursetta said.
Teachers also want to provide input into decision making.
“We wanted to delve deeper into new issues this year and were hoping for in-depth conversation about teacher input into professional development, curriculum and ways to help struggling schools,” she said.
