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Public splits at D11 meeting over renewal of CSEA master agreement
Summary
Dozens of public commenters told the District 11 board either to let the 56-year master agreement with the Colorado Springs Education Association expire or to keep it, leading to an executive-session negotiation on the contract.
The Colorado Springs School District 11 board heard sharply divided public comment on Wednesday over whether to renew its master agreement with the Colorado Springs Education Association.
Multiple residents and former teachers urged the board to let the 56-year master agreement expire, saying the contract gives the union outsized decision-making power and hampers district flexibility. "The master agreement contractually demands that the far-left teachers union have shared decision making power," Maria Bergman told the board, urging directors to end the agreement. James Sailor, a former D11 teacher, said Article 5 of the contract grants the union authority that undermines principals and the elected board.
Other speakers, including long-serving teacher Lisa Short and Kevin Coughlin, who identified himself as president of CSEA, defended the master agreement as essential to providing stable working conditions, fair pay and collaborative decision-making. "Our union recognition has given me what I needed to be a professional," Coughlin said, describing leadership and negotiating opportunities made possible by the contract.
Attorney Zach Krebel read statements from teachers who oppose the union and alleged aggressive organizing and pressure in schools; in turn, teachers and other commenters said the agreement protects academic freedom, job security and collaboration.
After extended public comment the board moved into executive session under Colorado statutes to discuss legal advice and negotiations related to the CSEA master agreement. The board later reconvened in public but took no formal vote to renew or reject the contract at the Dec. 4 meeting.
