KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – With talks deadlocked, Kalamazoo Public Schools and the Kalamazoo Education Association have agreed to mediated talks to try and come to terms on a contract.
Teachers have been working without a contract for the last month, and they turned out in large numbers to picket and speak at last night’s school board meeting to express their frustration.
Union president Heather Reid says pay and class sizes are the two main issues, but there are others.
She says they just haven’t been able to come to an agreement at the bargaining table, so they will bring in a third party to help.
The KEA represents 789 teachers.
Both Reid and the district refused to discuss details, but Superintendent Darrin Slade announced during the meeting that this week’s latest state mandated headcount suggests enrollment might be down by 200 students this year, reducing their state funding, and that could impact the district’s offer.
It’s the third straight year that the district has begun the school year without a teacher’s contract.
No date for the beginning of mediated talks has been set.
Trustees did ratify a contract last night with their support personnel, that’s bus drivers, security personnel, office staff, paraprofessionals and Montessori teaching assistants.
Comments