Northville board details contract offer as parents, teachers press for faster settlement

The Northville Public Schools Board of Education on Monday provided a detailed update on its stalled contract talks with the Northville Education Association and then moved into closed session to continue negotiations, after dozens of parents, teachers and union representatives urged the board to settle quickly.

The board said the district and the NEA have met 15 times beginning Feb. 25, 2025, and that a mediator from the Michigan Employment Relations Commission has participated in the last five sessions. "The board's commitment to staff and students is unwavering," a board statement read, summarizing the district's formal offer and fiscal outlook.

The board described the district's last proposal as advancing every eligible teacher one step on the salary schedule for both the 2025-26 and 2026-27 contract years, plus increasing the salary scale by 2% in 2025-26 and 1.5% in 2026-27. Those changes, the board said, would translate to average salary increases of about 5.14% for 2025-26 and 4.11% for 2026-27. The district cited examples: a teacher on step 15 of the master's lane with a 2024-25 salary of $103,200 would receive $110,242 in 2025-26 (an increase the board described as roughly 6.8%); a top-of-lane master's teacher earning $108,080 in 2024-25 would receive $110,242 in 2025-26, a roughly 2% increase.

The board also noted that district-paid health insurance, retirement contributions and FICA raise total compensation for some top-earning teachers with family coverage to more than $170,000, and that one-time bonus payments to teachers have ranged from about $2,500 to $11,800 annually since at least 2019. The board said the district has a 32% fund balance and that one-time COVID relief of about $12 million — discontinued effective September 2024 — had bolstered reserves; board materials said the district adopted its 2025-26 budget assuming an operational deficit that would draw on that fund balance.

During the public comment period, speakers across the community implored the board to move faster to reach a contract. "You have the money. That's what it's for," Matt Wilk, a former board treasurer and parent, told trustees. Jessica Ritter, a special education teacher, said, "We often hear the words 'we value our teachers.' But as teachers, we live in the space between what is said and what is shown." NEA President Mister Tabor said bargaining has stalled, alleging that the district failed to engage at a prior session and that the union's next scheduled meeting is Oct. 14. "We can settle this thing tonight," he said, urging the board and district negotiators to keep working.

Several speakers criticized district priorities, questioned the size and use of the fund balance and urged trustees to avoid additional outside spending. Grant Dalton, a union-affiliated organizer who said he represents thousands of school workers regionally, cautioned trustees that bargaining in good faith is a legal obligation and said his members seek a ratifiable, living-wage increase.

Board members emphasized the district's responsibility to be fiscally prudent while negotiating a sustainable agreement. After public comment and routine agenda business, the board approved a motion to convene in closed session "pursuant to Public Act 267 of the Open Meetings Act under section 8(c) — negotiations." The roll-call vote to enter the closed session was recorded as unanimous.

Votes at a glance - Motion 22: Adopt agenda as presented. Motion moved by Dr. Campbell Voetel; supported by Meyer. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Motion 23: Accept consent agenda (minutes from 8/26/2025, closed session minutes, NHS pompon/high kick competition travel, and schedule changes). Moved by Dr. Campbell Voetel; supported by Meyer. Outcome: approved 7-0. - Motion 24: Authorize administration to award a three-year contract to Savas for I Lit ELL (secondary English learners) curriculum materials totaling $18,696.75, funded by the general fund. Moved by Dr. Campbell Voetel; supported by Meyer. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Motion 25: Adopt a resolution urging the Michigan Legislature to promptly pass a full school-aid budget for FY 2025-26. Moved by Treasurer Stewart; supported by Dr. Campbell Voetel. Outcome: approved by roll-call vote 7-0 (Meyer, Frazier, Mabry, Maurer, McIntyre, Campbell Voetel, Stewart: yes). - Motion 26: Appoint delegates and alternates to the Michigan Association of School Boards delegate assembly; delegates and alternates were named and motion carried. - Motion 27: Convene closed session for negotiations under Open Meetings Act (section 8[c]). Moved and supported on the record; roll-call vote to enter closed session was unanimous.

What happened next The board adjourned the open portion of the meeting and moved into closed session to continue negotiations. Trustees said they would provide updates to the community as appropriate.

Why it matters Northville is a high-performing district whose teachers and staff have raised questions about pay and retention. The board's public summary of its last-best offer and the community's strong turnout for public comment make clear the political and operational stakes: trustees must balance a stated commitment to competitive pay with the district's longer-term budgeting constraints and legal obligations in bargaining. The union maintains that further engagement at the table could produce an immediate settlement.

Looking ahead Union representatives said their next scheduled bargaining session is Oct. 14. Board members and administrators said they will continue to work with the Michigan Employment Relations Commission mediator to reach a successor agreement and will share negotiated developments with the public as appropriate.