After months of stalled negotiations, the Boulder Valley teachers union on Friday tentatively agreed to a contract offer that’s nearly identical to one they rejected in September.
The tentative agreement, which still must be voted on by the union members, would give teachers a 1 percent cost-of-living raise, full coverage of health and dental benefits, two additional paid days of work and extra stipends for some employees.
One of few changes between the tentative agreement and the one rejected Sept. 18 was that the Boulder Valley School District agreed to delete a “memorandum of understanding” that would have formed a task force to look at future salary reform in the district.
The task force, which would have developed “a plan for salary reform to recognize teachers professionally as well as for their achievements toward building and district goals,” concerned the union because it appeared to be moving toward merit pay.
Becky McClure, Boulder Valley’s vice president for human resources, said the district still is interested in discussing different forms of compensation, but not through that specific task force.
Union president Melissa Tingley said her members still are angry that the district won’t make movement toward a “professional salary schedule,” which would reward teacher education and increase starting pay.
She said union leaders called a surprise meeting with the district Friday morning to sign a tentative agreement because, “It’s clear the current school board is indifferent to the needs of the employees and not interested in a collaborative relationship.”
“The teachers and all employees are still frustrated and angry with the outgoing board and unwillingness to engage us in a collaborative process,” Tingley said. “But we wanted to provide the new school board with a fresh start.”
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