Klamath County SD board approves 2025–2029 certified teacher contract; retention MOUs to follow
January 23, 2026 | Klamath County SD, School Districts, Oregon
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The Klamath County School District board approved ratification of the certified teacher contract covering 2025 through 2029 at a regularly scheduled meeting after a brief explanation from district staff and a short discussion about related local retention agreements.
District staff presented the 2025–2029 certified contract and told the board the bargaining team — including Steve and Brooke — supports bringing the agreement forward. "Before you board is the contract that is the 2025 through 2029, certified contract," said a staff member. The staff member said the union ratified the deal in a membership vote and that about "98% voted to approve it" among roughly 230 dues-paying members.
Why it matters: The multi-year certified contract sets pay and working conditions for teachers represented by KCEA and frames when the district will return to bargaining on financial terms. Board members raised questions about local retention incentives for hard-to-fill schools, which staff said are being handled outside the contract through time-limited memorandums of understanding.
Board discussion and MOUs: A board member asked whether housing or mileage stipends for Gilchrist were included in the contract; staff clarified those payments were part of a separate one-year MOU that had sunset and would be reissued if the union agrees. The staff member said the planned MOU would provide housing and mileage for Gilchrist and mileage only for Chiloquin, with housing stipends to be retroactive to July and mileage not retroactive. "We're gonna address those types of perks and issues and retention and recruitment type payments through MOUs and not in the contract," the staff member said. Another participant described the Gilchrist MOU as a short-term retention aid intended to help teachers settle into the community and said it was planned to sunset this year or next year.
Motion and vote: A board member moved to "approve the ratification of the 2025 through '29 contract," and a staff member seconded. Board members signaled assent by thumbs up, and the motion passed. The meeting concluded shortly after with brief thanks and adjournment.
Next steps: Staff said they are drafting a new MOU for Gilchrist and Chiloquin and expect to return details to the board and the union for review ahead of the February meeting. The board will resume bargaining on financial terms one year from March, according to staff comments.
District staff presented the 2025–2029 certified contract and told the board the bargaining team — including Steve and Brooke — supports bringing the agreement forward. "Before you board is the contract that is the 2025 through 2029, certified contract," said a staff member. The staff member said the union ratified the deal in a membership vote and that about "98% voted to approve it" among roughly 230 dues-paying members.
Why it matters: The multi-year certified contract sets pay and working conditions for teachers represented by KCEA and frames when the district will return to bargaining on financial terms. Board members raised questions about local retention incentives for hard-to-fill schools, which staff said are being handled outside the contract through time-limited memorandums of understanding.
Board discussion and MOUs: A board member asked whether housing or mileage stipends for Gilchrist were included in the contract; staff clarified those payments were part of a separate one-year MOU that had sunset and would be reissued if the union agrees. The staff member said the planned MOU would provide housing and mileage for Gilchrist and mileage only for Chiloquin, with housing stipends to be retroactive to July and mileage not retroactive. "We're gonna address those types of perks and issues and retention and recruitment type payments through MOUs and not in the contract," the staff member said. Another participant described the Gilchrist MOU as a short-term retention aid intended to help teachers settle into the community and said it was planned to sunset this year or next year.
Motion and vote: A board member moved to "approve the ratification of the 2025 through '29 contract," and a staff member seconded. Board members signaled assent by thumbs up, and the motion passed. The meeting concluded shortly after with brief thanks and adjournment.
Next steps: Staff said they are drafting a new MOU for Gilchrist and Chiloquin and expect to return details to the board and the union for review ahead of the February meeting. The board will resume bargaining on financial terms one year from March, according to staff comments.
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