By Bruce Rolfe
While most school districts still negotiating new contracts with teachers in Kalamazoo County have put negotiations on hold until the State of Michigan releases a per pupil Foundation Grant figure, the Galesburg-Augusta Board of Education and Galesburg-Augusta Education Association were eager to come together and reach an agreement before the start of the new school year.
The two sides reached an agreement on a two-year pact, July 23 with the G-A Board of Education approving the new agreement at an August 6 school board meeting.
According to G-A Superintendent Dr. Lindsey Newton, as of last Friday, G-A is the only school district in Kalamazoo County negotiating new contracts with teachers, to have a new contract.
Climx-Scotts Community Schools Doug Newington said the school board and teachers association were scheduled to meet earlier this week on a new contract.
According to the agreement provided by the G-A School District some of the highlights for 2025-2026 school year include:
• 3% increase to base salary for the 2025-2026 school year.
• A financial reopener will begin no later than Nov. 1, 2025, to bargain possible increases to base salary and/or off schedule payment.
• 2025-2026 school calendar of 184 teacher days is for 2025-2026 only.
• Steps, Lane Changes, and Longevity for 2025-2026.
Schedule A Wages for 2026-2027 include:
• 1.5% increase to base salary for the 2026-2027 school year. A financial and calendar reopener will begin no later than May 1, 2026, to bargain for additional % increases to base salary and the 2026-2027 school calendar.
• Steps, Lane Changes, and Longevity for 2026-2027.
• The school calendar for the 2026-2027 school year will be completed no later than August 1, 2026.
G-A E.A Chief Negotiator Eric Curtiss said he was pleased with the negotiations and how both sides were eager to get a settlement done before the start of the new school year.
“I do give the board credit for moving up to 3% and getting us to at least a point where we felt we could settle with them and start the school year with a contract, which is important. I think we had good collaboration this summer, so I think that helped,” said the G-A E.A. chief negotiator.
Curtiss adds he was happy with how other parts of the new contract was structured.
“I think increasing teachers’ rights, and also streamlining our contract too, might take us to a little bit more to being modernized from what it’s been in the past. I think it was a good bargaining year,” said Curtiss.
While most school districts still negotiating new contracts with teachers in Kalamazoo County have put negotiations on hold until the State of Michigan releases a per pupil Foundation Grant figure, the Galesburg-Augusta Board of Education and Galesburg-Augusta Education Association were eager to come together and reach an agreement before the start of the new school year.
The two sides reached an agreement on a two-year pact, July 23 with the G-A Board of Education approving the new agreement at an August 6 school board meeting.
According to G-A Superintendent Dr. Lindsey Newton, as of last Friday, G-A is the only school district in Kalamazoo County negotiating new contracts with teachers, to have a new contract.
Climx-Scotts Community Schools Doug Newington said the school board and teachers association were scheduled to meet earlier this week on a new contract.
According to the agreement provided by the G-A School District some of the highlights for 2025-2026 school year include:
• 3% increase to base salary for the 2025-2026 school year.
• A financial reopener will begin no later than Nov. 1, 2025, to bargain possible increases to base salary and/or off schedule payment.
• 2025-2026 school calendar of 184 teacher days is for 2025-2026 only.
• Steps, Lane Changes, and Longevity for 2025-2026.
Schedule A Wages for 2026-2027 include:
• 1.5% increase to base salary for the 2026-2027 school year. A financial and calendar reopener will begin no later than May 1, 2026, to bargain for additional % increases to base salary and the 2026-2027 school calendar.
• Steps, Lane Changes, and Longevity for 2026-2027.
• The school calendar for the 2026-2027 school year will be completed no later than August 1, 2026.
G-A E.A Chief Negotiator Eric Curtiss said he was pleased with the negotiations and how both sides were eager to get a settlement done before the start of the new school year.
“I do give the board credit for moving up to 3% and getting us to at least a point where we felt we could settle with them and start the school year with a contract, which is important. I think we had good collaboration this summer, so I think that helped,” said the G-A E.A. chief negotiator.
Curtiss adds he was happy with how other parts of the new contract was structured.
“I think increasing teachers’ rights, and also streamlining our contract too, might take us to a little bit more to being modernized from what it’s been in the past. I think it was a good bargaining year,” said Curtiss.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
