CHPS Contract Negotiations 2025-2027

Negotiations Update with Local #710 Federation of Teachers

• Counselors:
  • During the negotiations meetings, district officials have expressed favorable views on counselors and are not opposed to staffing for counselors.
  • Staffing is an inherent managerial right of the District. Adding counselors will be considered during the annual staffing process, depending on District finances.
  • Related to MN Statute: 179A.07 EMPLOYER RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS.

• Personal Leave Days:
  • Local #710 is requesting to take personal days without getting prior approval.
  • Requests for days over the maximum per building are considered depending on the circumstances. Preapproval to use a personal day is needed to efficiently run programs and buildings.
  • For the 2024-2025 school year, 94% of personal days were approved. 
  • Because an absence affects safety, operations, or ratios, most industries with operational, safety, or coverage needs do require pre-approval for personal days:
    • Healthcare
    • Education (K-12)
    • Retail
    • Manufactoring
    • Transportation
    • Hospitality
  • All employees of CHPS are required to seek pre-approval to use a personal day.

• Class Size/Case Loads
  • The district hires additional staff or determines program needs throughout the year. Administration reviews class sizes on a regular basis with the principal's input. The sizes of classes are determined based on multiple factors, including grade level and subject. The District is willing to have a class-size MOU committee again.
  • According to the Brightworks Metro Area Class Size Study 2024-25, Columbia Heights Public Schools does not exceed the average class sizes.

• Elementary Substitute Rates
  • The District is considering a rate increase. This would be part of the total financial package and was communicated to the negotiations team at the November 10th meeting.

• Calendar/Duty Days
  • The Board of Education approves the school calendar based on the recommendations of the calendar committee, which is composed of staff, parents and students. See School Board policy #602.
  • The typical duty day for Local #710 teachers is 7.25 hours, with approximately 5 hours of direct student contact time.
  • Additional hours worked outside of the 7.25 hours for required district meetings are paid at the rate of $40 per hour.

• Financial Package
  • Wages: During the negotiations meetings, the automatic steps (or salary increase) in the contract were reviewed and discussed.

• The District offered to provide salary increases above and beyond the automatic step increases.

• Percent of health insurance that the District covers (approximately 84% on Family and 88% on Single), VEBA money carries over to the next year. 0% increase on schedule for year one. Added additional activities for $ increase.
• The District agrees with the Local #710 that Local #710 members should not make less between insurance costs and salary increases than the previous year.

Columbia Heights Public Schools and the Local #710 Teachers Union have entered into contract negotiations for 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. 

Columbia Heights Public Schools and the Local #710 Teachers Union have entered into the following contract tentative agreements and/or memorandums of understanding.

READ Act Memorandum of Understanding

Teacher Development and Evaluation Memorandum of Understanding

Teacher Apprenticeship Memorandum of Understanding

Mileage

Evening Conference Pay

Progressive Discipline

Advanced Training and Credit Approval

Nurse Substitution

Voluntary PreK MOU

ECFE, PreK 3 & Parent Educator MOU

Social Worker Supervision MOU

CA STAR Schedule MOU

ESST MOU

Due Process MOU

Additional Activities

Teachers on Special Assignment

CA Schedule MOU

 Schedule B and Schedule D 

ECSE Stretch Calendar MOU

Minnesota Paid Leave MOU

2025 Teacher Negotiation Meeting Dates