Centennial Education Association president urges board for evening bargaining, cites class-size and contract concerns

Drew Rosa, president of the Centennial Education Association, used the public comment period at the Centennial School Board’s Sept. 10 meeting to call for greater transparency and changes to the district’s bargaining schedule.

"Our students and families benefit most when labor and leadership are working collaboratively and transparently," Rosa said, urging the board to hold more conversations in open public forums rather than primarily online. He said the union had requested to regain its standing to provide school board reports and had not received confirmation whether that request had been acted upon.

Rosa raised class size as a pressing concern across the district, saying that "we continue to see classrooms in the thirties and higher across the district" and that simple ratios of licensed staff to students do not reflect classroom realities when specialists are counted in staffing formulas. He also confirmed the district had begun the school year without a ratified contract but reported that his bargaining team had reached tentative agreements on several articles.

Rosa asked the board to move bargaining sessions into the evenings so teachers are not pulled out of classrooms during the day and invited board members and the public to a bargaining session on Monday, Sept. 15, at Centennial Middle School at 4:30 p.m. "Evening sessions are more equitable for everyone," he said.

The board did not respond during public comment; Chair Shields reiterated board policy that members typically do not respond to public forum remarks but refer operational matters to the superintendent.

Next steps: the union planned a public bargaining session Sept. 15, and the board’s upcoming work session agenda includes bargaining updates and an executive session to review negotiations.