Board ratifies certified teacher contract after narrow teacher vote; insurance reopener remains

The Derby Board of Education voted unanimously May 27 to ratify the district’s certified master contract for the 2025-26 school year after months of negotiations and a closely divided membership vote among certified staff. The board approved the agreement by voice vote (7-0).

The contract package increases the base teacher salary to $50,003 and applies a districtwide compensation and benefits package of 4.62 percent. The district also committed $450,000 in additional contributions toward health insurance. The agreement adds longevity payments that begin earlier in teachers’ careers and extends longevity beyond 25 years, provides increases to supplemental pay, grants column movement recognition for master’s and doctoral degrees, and gives an addendum of one-and-a-half days for special education service providers (one day for caseload work and a half-day of professional development).

District officials said the bargaining process included targeted salary infusions to selected cells on the salary schedule designed to move toward the district’s stated goal of being competitive in the top three comparison districts. Negotiators also agreed to grant experience credit on certain supplemental roles and to reopen the contract later this year to finalize the defined health-insurance contribution once final insurance plan information is available.

Kathleen O’Brien, president of the Derby National Education Association (DNEA), told the board earlier in the meeting that 570 certified staff were eligible to vote, 416 cast ballots, and the membership ratified the contract by five votes. O’Brien said the close margin reflected concerns among some staff about the package’s structure, including whether increases best recognized column/step movement versus a single “cell” payment.

Assistant Superintendent Becky Mader summarized the settlement for the board and noted language changes and negotiated items beyond pay, including peer observation language and PTO clarifications. Board members thanked negotiators and district finance staff for the work and emphasized that the district will continue outreach and analysis as it prepares next year’s bargaining priorities.

The agreement passed the board without recorded opposition. The negotiated reopener on health insurance will require staff and board follow-up once final insurance rates and plan options are available.

Votes at a glance: Board ratification — motion to ratify certified master contract for 2025-26; outcome: approved (7-0).