Chelsea State Bank ad

Chelsea teachers ratify contract, await board vote Monday

By Crystal Hayduk

After reaching a tentative agreement with the Chelsea School District on March 4, members of the Chelsea Education Association (CEA) approved the contract on March 17.

According to CEA President Rick Catherman, the association “… met last week to inform their membership about the contents of the tentative contract agreement reached between the CEA and the Chelsea School District. The group then met this week and voted to ratify the agreement.”

The contract is scheduled to go to the school board on March 23.

According to Superintendent Andy Ingall, board members are expected to gather in closed session at the end of the regular meeting for “final review, conversation, and questions.” At that point, the board president will re-open the meeting so that board members may cast their votes on the contract.

Chelsea School District teachers have been working under the terms of an expired contract since July 1, 2014. The teachers’ union and the school board have struggled with negotiations, especially concerning health insurance and wages.

Following failed mediation last fall, the CEA requested a fact-finding hearing. The hearing, which had been scheduled for March 5, was postponed after the two sides reached a tentative agreement.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email