D60 teachers return to school but some may have to return for extra days
Hundreds of teachers are back to school and getting back to business. For the first time in a week, District 60 educators made their way back inside their classrooms with their thousands of students.
It comes after teachers went on a week-long strike demanding a cost of living adjustment and more money in their classrooms.
The strike ended Sunday night when 89% of teachers accepted a deal presented by Pueblo Education Association and the district.
The deal agreed to pay teachers a 2% cost of living adjustment retroactive to January 2018, and compensate them for the five days they were on strike. Two of the days will be counted as personal leave, and the other three are covered by the district.
This settlement isn’t exactly what teachers wanted but PEA President, Suzanne Ethredge said it’s close, “I think they understood that the amnesty piece of this teachers being able to go back without any real financial harm and they want something to be settled so they could get back to do what they love to do, teach.”
The district confirmed this afternoon the money for the retroactive pay amounts to $4,125,000 and will be paid by unused funds from some school budgets like “substitutes, supplies and purchase services.”
For the 2018-2019 school year, the two parties agreed on a 2.5 percent cost of living adjustment, STEP for teachers, and a total of $520 contribution to their health insurance. The money for next year is anticipated to come from the Colorado Department of Education who is expected to distribute more to schools all over the state.
D60 Communications director, Dalton Sprouse said today, “really everyone inside these buildings from lunch workers and all the way through, we’re thrilled. It’s almost like a 2nd first day of school.”
Not everyone came out of the strike unscathed. Some schools who missed critical contact hours are currently discussing the options they have to finish their school year. Belmont Elementary, Goodnight Elementary, Heroes Academy and Corwin International Magnet School are the four that may have to add days to their calendar.
Graduation seniors in D60 have nothing to worry about. Their ceremony dates will not be affected or moved due to the strike.
