While past years have seen closed-door mediations amid teacher salary negotiations due to a lack of agreement, this year brought smooth sailing, Summit County Education Association members said. 

Seventh grade counselor and Summit County Education Association member Brian Tracey said negotiations ended with the teacher’s base salary increasing from $54,000 to $54,500, just below a 1% increase. Special Service Providers — including positions like counselors, audiologists, nurses and speech-language pathologists— will receive the commensurate increase, or 2.77%.

“This year’s negotiations stood apart from previous years for two key reasons: genuine collaboration and a shared commitment to trust,” Tracey stated in an email. “These foundational principles between the District and (Summit County Education Association) were established well before April 28th, and we remain committed to strengthening our partnership through honest dialogue, ongoing advocacy, and recruitment & retention of highly qualified Educators.”

Aside from salary increases, the Summit County Education Association brought another request to the table: placing focus on the exit survey for departing staff. Tracey said the task stemmed from a desire for insight into the full scope of retention issues. He said while major factors such as housing costs and access to childcare fuel retention issues, the education association would like even more context. 

Summit School District communications director Kerstin Anderson said the district will be updating the exit survey based on this feedback, making the changes ahead of the next school year. 

She said the district appreciated the spirit of collaboration demonstrated in this year’s negotiations and were particularly proud of the open dialogue that occurred. 

“Our educators are the heart of our work. Through partnership and honest dialogue, we are laying the groundwork for a stronger, more supportive system,” Superintendent Dr. Tony Byrd said in a recent news release. “We deeply value (Summit County Education Association’s) collaboration and our shared commitment to the future of public education in Summit.”

Last year’s negotiations ended with an average pay increase of 4.8% after union negotiators had previously rejected an offer that they said would have meant an average salary increase of 3%. Starting pay for new teachers last year rose about 4%, from $50,000 to $52,200. 

With negotiations in the rearview, Tracey said the Summit County Education Association will continue its advocacy for better education funding on the state level in partnership with Colorado Education Association. He said educators across Colorado feel the underfunding is “chronic” and that it came to a head at the Day of Action at the state capital March 20. Nearly 80% of Summit School District teachers took the day off to protest at the capital, and it is estimated over 2,000 teachers were present from across the state.

While Colorado’s public schools will receive more funding this year than last year, it is not as much as initially promised by the legislature largely thanks to a state budget deficit.

Overwhelmed by headlines? Let us help.

Sign up for daily and weekly newsletters at SummitDaily.com/newsletter

“Summit School District also recognizes the broader challenges facing public education. Colorado remains one of the lowest-funded states in the nation, and we must continue to seek creative and sustainable solutions,” Anderson said. “Together, through transparent collaboration and shared purpose, we can continue to advocate for the resources our students, staff, and community deserve.”