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Board ratifies multiple staff agreements; teachers and many employees receive 3% COLA
Summary
The board ratified tentative agreements and established terms of employment across bargaining units: a 3% cost-of-living adjustment and step increases for several units, an $18/hour starting wage in one unit and negotiated provisions including a summer four‑day work week and a telework pilot timeline.
The Board of Education on Wednesday ratified tentative agreements and established terms of employment across multiple employee groups for fiscal year 2026. The votes were unanimous (8–0) on the items brought before the board.
Highlights reported by district negotiators and staff: - Teachers (Unit 1, Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County, TAC): the tentative agreement includes a step increase for eligible employees, a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA), modifications to the AACPS career ladder and continuation of the telework pilot for 12‑month employees. TAC ratified the agreement on June 16, 2025. - AFSCME (Unit 3, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 1693): the tentative agreement includes a step increase for eligible employees, a 3% COLA, an updated salary scale reflecting an $18/hour starting wage and a new provision on staff expectations for student interactions. AFSCME ratified the agreement on June 14, 2025. - Non‑represented units (Units 5 and 6): unit 5 and unit 6 employees will receive a step equivalent and a 3% COLA. - Units without a settled negotiated agreement (Unit 2 and Unit 4): the board established terms of employment for FY26 as set by administration. For both units, the district reported no step or COLA for FY26. District staff said those terms remain in effect pending a successor agreement.
Other cross-cutting provisions: the board approved a short-term four‑day work week for summer 2025 (June 25 through Aug. 5) and the telework pilot will expire for certain units on June 30, 2025, per staff presentations.
Melissa Rawls, executive director of employee relations, thanked union leaders and negotiating teams for collaboration. Delania Akendoyo, AFSCME president, was acknowledged in remarks recorded by staff.
Why it matters: The agreements set FY26 compensation and workplace provisions for the majority of district employees and were part of the boards consent and action agenda. The board ratified unit 1 and unit 3 agreements and set terms for other units in roll-call votes recorded 8–0.
