After months of sometimes tense negotiations, the Canby School District appears to have avoided the threat of a possible teachers’ strike with the news of a tentative agreement with the Canby Education Association — the local union representing its licensed staff.
The agreement concerns wage increases and benefits for the next two years — the final two of the current four-year collective bargaining agreement.
A joint release from the district and the CEA said the two sides had come to terms on annual cost of living adjustments, or COLAs, and increases in benefit allowances — though it did not specify the amounts. As of last month, the district was said to be offering a 3 percent cost-of-living increase for both years of the contract, while the CEA had countered with 3 percent in year one, followed by a 5 percent bump the following year.
A copy of the tentative agreement provided to the Canby Now Podcast indicated that the two sides agreed to meet in the middle, with a 3 percent COLA effective July 1, 2019 (retroactive pay to be dispersed in a lump sum next month) and a 4 percent COLA effective July 1, 2020.
Both marks represent the highest cost-of-living increase Canby teachers have received since the 2010-11 school year.
The district also agreed to up its insurance contributions by $65 a month effective Jan. 1 (not retroactive), for a total of $1,300 a month, and an additional $52 a month effective Oct.1, for a total of $1,352.
The district also agreed to some changes pertaining to teachers’ comp time, preparation time, substituting policy and evaluation of students.
If the agreement is ratified by CEA members, the contract will be presented to the Canby School District Board of Directors on Thursday, Dec. 19, for approval.
“The Board is pleased CEA has accepted our offer and we can move forward with our educators feeling supported and valued by our district,” Angi Dilkes, Canby School District Board Chair, said in the joint release. “There was a lot of hard work behind the scenes to make this happen, and I am proud of how we worked together to find a solution.”
“This tentative agreement demonstrates the district’s commitment to its educators who continue working tirelessly, teaching and caring for our students,” said Troy Soles, CEA Bargaining Chair. “We appreciate the district’s investment in its people who endeavor to help every student realize their full potential.”
“I am grateful for the partnership between the district and the association and the level of cooperation through which this tentative agreement was reached,” said Superintendent Trip Goodall. “We reached an agreement that is fiscally responsible and shows our support and appreciation for our educators.”
Salary increases will be retroactive to July 1, 2019, the release said. Mediation that was scheduled for February 2020 will now be canceled.
The involved parties declined to comment beyond what was contained in the joint release early Monday evening.
