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Bartholomew Con School Corp board ratifies 2025–27 teachers’ contract in 6–0 vote
Summary
At a special meeting the Bartholomew Con School Corp board voted 6–0 to ratify a tentative two‑year collective bargaining agreement with the teachers’ union covering the 2025–27 school years; the CEA had previously ratified the agreement 89.7%.
At a special meeting called to order by Chair Wheeldon, the Bartholomew Con School Corp board voted 6–0 to ratify a tentative two‑year collective bargaining agreement with its teachers’ union covering the 2025–27 school years.
Dr. Stobbaum summarized the bargaining timeline, saying the district held informal meetings in May, a public input session in September and completed formal bargaining with a tentative agreement reached Oct. 1. "They ratified that TA with their October vote. That percentage was 89.7%," Dr. Stobbaum said, referring to the CEA membership ratification. A summary of the tentative agreement was posted on the district website on Oct. 15, she said.
Dr. Stobbaum told trustees the agreement spans two years and lays out starting and maximum salaries for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years, and includes technical edits such as prorating benefited time and deleting language no longer applicable. "I recommend that you vote to approve these changes to the 2025–27 collective bargaining agreement," she said.
A board member moved to approve the salary and contract negotiation agreement for the 2025 through 2027 school years; a second was recorded. The board then discussed a clarification about moving up the salary schedule. A trustee asked what is required for a teacher to advance steps; Dr. Stobbaum replied that teachers must meet three criteria — receive an evaluation, work at least 120 days and complete five hours of professional development — to move up the schedule. She added that per IRB rules the academic evaluation and experience factors together cannot account for more than 50% of the makeup of the increases, and that a teacher who meets only two of the three requirements would move up by the proportionate percentage of the increase.
Chair Wheeldon called the vote and the motion carried 6–0. "Congratulations," Wheeldon said after the result was announced.
Dr. Phillips thanked the negotiators and board members, noting, "There are years we can do more, and there are years we can't. And I'm hopeful that in our next contract, we'll be able to be happier with where we end up." Wheeldon also announced the board would move to an executive session related to safety and security and reminded those present that the next regular board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 17 in this room.
The board took formal action only on ratifying the tentative collective bargaining agreement; no public commenters were signed up to address the item at the meeting.
