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Albany board approves on‑time teachers’ contract after interest‑based bargaining
Summary
The Board of Education unanimously approved a memorandum of agreement with the Albany Public School Teachers Association dated June 4, 2025, following an interest‑based bargaining process the district and union described as collaborative.
The City School District of Albany Board of Education on June 4 unanimously approved a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Albany Public School Teachers Association (APSTA), the board president announced after a motion and second. Board President Sridhar Chatur said the agreement was presented "upon the recommendation of the superintendent" and the motion to approve the MOA was carried unanimously.
The contract, dated June 4, 2025, was the product of an interest‑based bargaining (IBB) process the district and teachers’ union said differed from prior negotiations. Superintendent Hockrider told the board the district and APSTA had sought "a different tone and a different feel" for bargaining, emphasizing collaboration and the "why" of proposals rather than only the "what." He described the work as taking risks worth taking to improve climate, culture and retention.
Laura Franz, president of the Albany Public School Teachers Association, said the union’s members "overwhelmingly ratified this with a 90% confidence rate" and praised IBB for giving classroom staff an equal voice in crafting solutions. Deanna Karas, the district’s long‑time chief negotiator, called the process "by far the best experience" she has participated in, saying both sides identified issues, generated options and drafted language together.
Phil Mavrigas, who will chair future negotiations for APSTA, said the experience convinced him the parties can work toward shared goals: "We all do want many of the same things. We want this district to be a place where people want to work… and where they can do their best work." The superintendent and board members likewise described the result as a collective win for students and staff.
The board motion approving the MOA was offered by Elman Almenawi and seconded by Vicky Smith; a roll call was taken and the board chair announced the vote as unanimous. The district did not publish salary or term details in the public portion of the meeting; the MOA itself is referenced in the board resolution as the Memorandum of Agreement between the City School District of Albany and the Albany Public School Teachers Association, dated 06/04/2025.
The district and union said elements of the IBB process will be used in other collaborative initiatives, including work on teacher evaluation (APPR) and other labor‑management committees.
