AURORA — The Aurora school district and its teachers union have reached an agreement on a new contract that calls for a 2 percent increase in pay for all employees this coming school year.
But there’s a hitch: The school board must agree to put a property-tax hike on the November ballot to fund it and voters must approve it or else there will be no raises.
Aurora Public Schools hasn’t asked for a mill levy increase since 1990 but feels that is the only way it can fund salary increases for the 2008-09 school year, said chief personnel officer Kari Allen.
“If we had the money already in the budget, we would gladly give all employees a raise,” Allen said. “This was the best we could do.”
Any pay raise will be retroactive to the beginning of the school year, but employees would not receive the money until January.
The school board likely will let voters decide the issue.
But in a tight economy, and with the potential of bond measures and even tax hikes being considered by the city of Aurora, it could be a tough sell.
The other outstanding issue was teacher planning time. An agreement was reached that will allow teachers to determine 70 percent of their planning time. Principals will determine the remaining 30 percent.
The contract agreement came after both sides reached a stalemate in talks and then went to mediation. Union president Brenna Isaacs could not be reached for comment.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
