By Crystal Hayduk
Chelsea School District (CSD) teachers will feel some relief from annual bargaining with their new three-year contract. The CSD Board of Education ratified the tentative agreement with the teachers’ bargaining unit, Chelsea Education Association (CEA), at their meeting on June 12. The action item passed six to zero; trustee Glenn Fox was absent.
The contract takes effect July 1 and extends to June 30, 2026. The parties are expected to sign the agreement prior to the expiration of the current contract on June 30.
Superintendent Mike Kapolka said the two sides have been negotiating since November. He thanked CEA negotiating leads Meg Emlaw and Mike Brown, as well as Adam Schilt, CEA president, for “thinking differently about bargaining.” The three-year contract focuses on staff retention and recruitment.
During the second opportunity for public comment, Schilt, who represents more than 130 CEA members, thanked the board “for coming to the table eager to reach a resolution.” He said the agreement was unanimously approved by the membership.
Schilt said when two sides see things differently, it is important to “center the humanity of each person at the table and assume the best intentions of the other party. The tenor at the table this year allowed for this, which is a testament to our district leaders and to our lead negotiators. …
“The continuity and stability [of a long-term contract] is vital in what is a really challenging career. Thank you for demonstrating your belief that our educators are a valued part of our district’s success, and on behalf of the CEA, we look forward to our continued work together and opportunities for teachers’ voice and input,” said Schilt.
Nicole Darby, chief financial officer, presented the 2022-23 final amended budget and the 2023-24 preliminary budget. The district ends this year with a fund equity of 15.02%, and is forecast to end next year with a fund equity of 14.39%. The board is expected to approve the budgets at its next meeting.
Interim athletic director Wayne Welton presented the girls water polo team and their coach, Jessica Hinderer, who had an outstanding season.
The girls water polo team qualified to play at the state finals for the first time. “The endurance it takes to play and compete with 14 girls on an all-Chelsea team is pretty impressive,” said Welton. He said a team made up of players from only one school is unheard of in D3. Other teams are cooperating teams made up of two or more districts.
Of note are the character and conduct of the players, both in and out of the water. The sophomore through senior players are academic all-state, with a team average 3.85 GPA, said Welton.
Welton said their season was “historic, and the best is yet to come.”
He also thanked the parent board, noting their efforts with financially managing the self-funded sport.
Hinderer expressed appreciation for the team’s co-captains, who were instrumental in their success: Kiera Crawley, Gabriella Burgess, and Fiona Stoker. Hinderer said she was proud of the entire team and is grateful to be their coach. “They did all the work; they deserve everything they’ve earned,” she said.
Building administrators presented their report on the 2022-23 Portrait of a Graduate work with students at all grade levels. Their presentation, as well as two opportunities for public comment with 10 individuals addressing the board, can be viewed as part of the meeting videorecording here for one month.
In other board news:
Kapolka thanked the district’s retirees: John Bassett (transportation), Tracey Dalton (food service), Ron Kevari (custodian), Toni Kinsey (South Meadows teacher), Arlene Kofahl (high school teacher), Audrey Lodewyk (high school parapro), and Terry Loomis (operations). He also thanked retiree Kimberly Gillow, North Creek principal, for her empathy and love for the children and her staff.
The board approved the donation of $5,386.90 from the Chelsea-Shimizu Sister Cities Exchange Program to the Washington, D.C. scholarship fund at Beach Middle School.
Upcoming date:
The next school board meeting, with a budget hearing, will be at 6:30 p.m. on June 26 in the board room at the Washington Street Education Center.
