DPS, teachers keep some raises

Agreement preserves some pay while dealing with district’s $65M shortfall in state revenue

The Denver teachers union and district officials reached an agreement late Thursday that preserves some pay raises won in last year’s strike even as the district faces significant budget challenges.

Over the course of 13 hours of virtual negotiations, the district agreed to keep raises that teachers earn based on longevity as well as offer a 0.5% cost-of-living increase, with that amount to be doubled if voters approve a tax increase in November. The district will also use federal relief money set aside for COVID response to cover certain training and planning days for teachers.

While union negotiators offered for teachers to take a furlough day early in the bargaining session, the final agreement doesn’t include any unpaid days off for teachers.

Denver Superintendent Susana Cordova earlier this week asked the union to renegotiate the contract signed in February 2019 after a three-day strike. That contract secured substantial wage increases for teachers and special service providers like nurses and school psychologists.

Denver Public Schools is facing a $65 million shortfall in state revenue due to widespread job losses and business closures related to efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus. That amounts to roughly 6% of the district’s $1.1 billion budget.

To save $16 million, district officials had sought to eliminate a 1.9% cost-of-living increase and freeze step increases — pay raises that teachers earn for notching another year of service. It was not immediately clear Thursday night how much money the changes would save the district or where else officials might seek to cut.

Union negotiators argued that the district has other ways of saving money and described teachers now supporting households on one income after a partner lost a

job.

“We wanted to do everything we could to maintain that salary schedule that helps retain the best teachers,” union president Tiffany Choi said in an interview. “That was really important.”

The district’s proposed budget aims to protect individual school budgets and the paychecks of low-wage workers, such as food service workers and custodians, while avoiding layoffs. It calls for $18 million in non-salary cuts from the district’s central office.

The district is also saving roughly $5 million through what it calls “progressive pay adjustments.” Low-wage workers would get pay raises while higher-wage workers would see their salaries reduced through a combination of pay cuts and unpaid furlough days.

In its counterproposals, union leaders suggested the district use federal coronavirus relief money to pay for at least one training day focused on preparing to teach under new public health guidelines and under new hybrid models. The final agreement calls for teachers to attend one paid training day related to COVID and receive a one-time stipend equivalent to eight hours of pay “for efforts related to necessary student support because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” both to be paid for with federal relief dollars.

Mark Ferrandino, deputy superintendent of operations, said during negotiations that he has significant concerns about the sustainability of pay increases.

By law, the district needs to approve its budget by June 30.