Hamilton County educators vote to enter collaborative conferencing; HCA chosen as representative

Jeanette O'Mourkel, identifying herself as HCA president, reported results of the 2025 PECCA vote during the board's public-comment period, saying 63% of eligible educators voted to enter collaborative conferencing and 93% of voting educators selected the Hamilton County Education Association (HCA) to represent them for the next phase.

"In an overwhelmingly, positive show of confidence, 93% of voting educators selected Hamilton County Education Association to continue representing them during the next phase," O'Mourkel said. She told the board that a joint team representing the district and teachers will be presented to the board next month; that team will confer on six topics under PECCA: salaries and wages, grievance procedures, insurance and fringe benefits, working conditions, and leave.

O'Mourkel said HCA has represented educators for 78 years and expressed willingness to work "collaboratively, transparently" with the district to strengthen teaching and learning conditions. The board did not vote on any contract or formal agreement during the work session; O'Mourkel's report was delivered as a public comment and as a status update on the PECCA process.

Next steps: O'Mourkel said the representative team will be presented to the board beginning next month to start conferencing on the enumerated topics. No formal board action on PECCA was recorded at this work session.