Brandywine board approves new teacher contract; reviews student growth data and finances

The Brandywine School District Board of Education on Monday approved a tentative collective bargaining agreement with the Brandywine Education Association, ending a contract lapse that began June 2024 and that, board members said, had left teachers without an agreed-upon contract for part of the school year.

Superintendent Dr. Peter Lawson and district negotiator Miss McIntyre told the board the district and the union reached a tentative agreement in February and that the Brandywine Education Association ratified the agreement earlier the same evening. Miss McIntyre said the agreement covers local salary provisions and working conditions “from February through February” and remains in effect until a successor agreement is adopted. Board President Ackerman said he supported the contract and urged earlier starts to future negotiations so teachers would not be left waiting. “We should have started in January,” Ackerman said.

Why it matters: the contract settles outstanding labor terms for the district’s educators and has budget implications for the current fiscal year. At the same meeting the board also heard the superintendent’s midyear Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) results and received monthly financial reports that project the district’s year-end balance and note several budget items for follow-up.

Details of the contract vote and related board actions The board took a formal vote to approve the contract after a motion and…