Board approves new teachers contract; negotiators cite raises and benefit updates

The Houston Public School District board approved a new teachers master agreement after the district negotiating team reported the agreement had been ratified by teachers and included several compensation and contract changes.

District negotiators told the board the teachers ratified the agreement by an 89% to 11% vote. The negotiating team said negotiations began in May and the agreement was completed before the start of the school year so payroll could reflect the new amounts.

Key items the negotiating team summarized included a percentage increase described in the meeting as "2 and 2," adjustments to certain stipends (one stipend increase listed as $200), updates to insurance contributions tied to vendor changes, and changes to leave and payout language so that paid time off (PTO) can be paid out when employees leave at the end of the year. Negotiators also reported changes intended to equalize compensation for class-size overages across certain instructional assignments and to provide expanded options for employee health-savings contributions.

A board member asked whether the district had feedback from the roughly 11% of teachers who did not ratify the contract. Negotiators said the teacher association typically surveys its members after bargaining to identify priorities for future negotiations and to gather feedback from those who opposed ratification.

A motion to approve the master agreement passed in open session. District staff said approving the agreement at the meeting would allow payroll to process the raises and stipends for the current pay cycle.

Board members thanked the negotiating team for completing the agreement prior to the school year and emphasized the contract's role in retaining and supporting experienced teachers.