Northville board ratifies two‑year contract with teachers' union after extended negotiations

The Northville Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to ratify a two‑year collective bargaining agreement with the Northville Education Association covering the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years.

The district presented the tentative agreement to the board after NEA membership ratified the deal hours earlier. Board member Miss Meyer moved the ratification and Doctor Campbell Voigtel seconded; the motion passed 7-0.

Brian Sumner, a district negotiator, told the board that parties met on 17 occasions over the negotiating period and that the agreement includes both economic and non‑economic terms within parameters the board had set. In a public comment after the ratification, NEA President Richard Tabor thanked negotiators on both sides, acknowledged the difficulty of the process and apologized for any harm caused during the course of bargaining. “I knew we'd eventually get to a deal. I didn't think it would take this long, but I'm glad that we're able to do it,” Tabor said.

Board members described the ratification as stabilizing for the district at a time of budget uncertainty. The board and union also issued a joint statement read at the meeting that noted the extensive effort of both sides and the shared goal of recruiting and retaining high‑quality teachers.

The board’s action ratifies the contract as presented; the agreement will be implemented according to its terms and the parties’ agreed schedule. No dollar figures were read aloud at the board meeting; the board said supporting documents and an executive summary had been provided to trustees and will be posted to district resources.

Votes and next steps: the board approved the tentative agreement 7-0 and instructed administration and the NEA to proceed with implementation steps outlined in the agreement documents.