Charlottesville board hears support‑staff contract ratified by unit; board to consider formal vote March 5

Miss Lewis presented the school support professional collective bargaining agreement to the Charlottesville City School Board on Feb. 19, saying the document ‘‘reflects months of collaboration between Charlottesville City Schools and CEA’’ and that the bargaining unit had ratified the agreement. She said the agreement ‘‘includes a 10 and a half percent raise, educational credit supplements, paid breaks, and duty‑free lunch,’’ and that the full agreement will be presented to the board for a vote at the March 5 meeting.

Board members responded with thanks to bargaining teams and support staff. ‘‘I’m glad that CEA ultimately brought this tentative agreement to its membership and that it passed,’’ a board member said, noting the planned 10.5% raise for each of the next three years — a change the speaker characterized as increasing support‑staff salaries by more than 31% over the life of the contract. Several members said they want clearer timelines in the district’s collective bargaining resolution so future cycles run more smoothly.

One board member recounted the timeline for negotiation and ratification and raised concerns about delays in bringing the tentative agreement to members for a ratification vote. That member said the union sought to reopen agreed terms in January; the claim was made on the board floor and was not directly disputed in the meeting record. Board members said they will review and tighten internal timelines in the collective bargaining process.

The board did not vote on the contract at the Feb. 19 meeting. Miss Lewis said the bargaining unit ratified the agreement, and she asked that the board prepare to consider the contract at its March 5 meeting. The board’s comments on Feb. 19 were supportive of the agreement’s financial terms and of honoring collective bargaining processes while maintaining fiscal oversight.