UPDATE: Colorado Springs D11 teachers, School Board & parents react to new strike date
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Colorado Springs Education Association (CSEA) announced Tuesday that teachers in Colorado Springs School District 11 will hold a one-day strike on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
CSEA says the strike comes in response to the D11 Board of Education’s decision to end a 56-year master agreement last December. Union members have accused the district of refusing to engage in collective bargaining, while the board maintains it is “pro-teacher” and has dedicated significant funding to staff pay.
"It’s not complicated. Students deserve safe schools, bright futures, and supported educators—not district leaders putting politics before kids; that’s why we plan to strike on October 8th," CSEA said in a social media post announcing the strike date.
CSEA members voted back in May to authorize the strike, with union leaders saying 91% supported the move.
The educators argue the district’s decision to dissolve the decades-old master agreement silenced teachers’ voices and undermined public education. The board has since created the Employee Handbook, which outlines employment compensation and other policies. The school board says it was created in collaboration with staff and aligns with the protocol of other school districts.
"None of our surrounding school districts have a master agreement with the teachers, and we are in line with what is happening at 17 other school districts in El Paso County," says Dr. Parth Melpakam, president board of education.
But the Employee Handbook is not a contract and can be modified at any time, which teachers say is a concern.
"Everyone wants a sense of familiarity, continuity. And if you're not sure what's going to happen next, that leaves a lot open for possible misuse of the employee handbook," says Anton Schulzki, a former teacher who worked in the district for decades.
The union has also expressed concern about a growing effort by D11 to expand district charter schools, warning it could pull resources from public schools and widen existing inequities.
"I support their decision to strike. I know it will be a disruption, obviously, but I think that is the point of planning ahead, letting people know because it's the only power that they have," says a parent with four kids enrolled at D11, Alli Klein.
District leaders have pushed back on those claims, pointing to more than $100 million in new compensation for staff since 2022 and a double-digit pay increase they say exceeds raises offered by surrounding districts.
On Wednesday, D11 Superintendent Michael Gaal sent KRDO13 the following statement in response to the strike announcement:
"In District 11, our purpose is clear: we are here for students. We believe every day of instruction matters, and a strike undermines that commitment. This action represents the decision of union leadership, not the entirety of our teachers. We stand with all educators who remain dedicated to their students and with every family who counts on us for learning. Our focus remains on delivering high-quality instruction, with embedded coaching, robust classroom supports, and strong curricular resources, and experiences that empower every child to succeed."
The union said the strike will begin outside D11 schools starting at 7:30 a.m. and will end with a rally in Acacia Park in downtown Colorado Springs at 2:30 p.m.
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