Teachers’ association urges collaborative contract talks; board agrees to committee participation

Kendra Avery, speaking on behalf of the BEA Education Association, told the board the union seeks cooperative negotiations for next year’s contract and requested that a board member from the compensation committee attend negotiation meetings to improve communication. She said last year’s imposition had "a negative impact... on staff morale," and the BEA is hoping for a better result this time.

The compensation committee (S13) reported it will bring a proposal in June to raise substitute compensation to $135 and said at least one committee member will participate in next year’s negotiations. Board members thanked the BEA representative for attending and expressed willingness to work toward mutual outcomes.

Why it matters: Labor negotiations affect staffing, classroom continuity and the district budget. The board’s agreement to include committee representation in negotiations responds directly to the BEA’s request for clearer communication and may change how proposals are developed and discussed.

Next steps: The compensation committee will present the substitute‑pay item to the full board in June and coordinate committee participation in bargaining sessions as discussions begin.