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Derby board ratifies certified master contract after narrow certified-staff vote
Summary
The Derby Board of Education ratified the 2025–26 certified master contract unanimously after certified staff ratified the agreement by five votes on a 416–of–570 turnout, and board members discussed insurance, longevity pay and targeted salary infusions.
The Derby Board of Education voted unanimously to ratify the 2025–26 certified master contract after district negotiators and the Derby NEA brought the agreement to the membership. The board approved the contract 7–0 at its May 27 meeting.
The contract was narrowly approved by certified staff. Kathleen O’Brien, speaking as president of DNEA and a Derby High School science teacher, told the board there were 570 eligible certified voters and 416 cast ballots; “the contract passed by 5 votes,” she said. O’Brien added the high school largely rejected the package while elementary results tipped the tally.
The contract includes a base teacher salary increase that raises the new base to $50,003, a districtwide salary package of 4.62 percent for eligible employees, a $450,000 additional district contribution to health insurance, negotiated longevity pay starting earlier than previously provided, increased supplementals and pay infusions targeted at specific cells of the schedule. The agreement also grants experience credit for supplemental roles and adds 1.5 addendum days for special education service providers.
Board members and negotiators said the package represents the most the district could offer within current resources. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Becky Mader summarized the financial changes and noted a reopener on insurance: the district will revisit defined contribution splits once health-plan costs are finalized. Director of Finance Pam Kelly and HR staff will continue that work.
Several board members said the contract was difficult to finalize because members sought to balance competitiveness and long‑term budget sustainability. Board members noted the district remains at a 31 percent local option budget (LOB) rate and said increasing the LOB would be the clearest way to expand pay in future years. “There’s only one way to do better and that’s to have more money,” one member said, urging engagement with budget committees.
The board and negotiators said they will continue to solicit and incorporate teacher feedback in future negotiations. Mader said the district will begin planning next year’s negotiations and work to improve communication about how compensation packages are structured.
