(Editor’s Note: The following article was submitted by the St. Cloud Area School District.)

St. Cloud Area School District 742 and the St. Cloud Education Association are pleased to report that they have reached a tentative agreement for the 2021-2023 teacher contract subject to ratification by SCEA and approval by the Board of Education. 

Superintendent Willie Jett says, “We are happy to reach an agreement with our teachers that recognizes the vital role they play in the education of our students, particularly during the challenges we have faced over the past two years.” 

Chris Erickson, President of the St. Cloud Education Association commented, “We have worked hard over the past five months in collaborative and positive negotiation sessions to come to an agreement that recognizes the important work of teachers.”

The 2019-2021 contract expired on June 30th and district administration and the teacher bargaining team have worked diligently throughout the summer and school year to develop a mutually acceptable agreement.

For 2021-2023, the terms of the agreement include salary steps for eligible employees in both years and a 1.75% increase on the salary schedule in year one of the contract and a two percent increase in year two. In addition, the package includes increases in longevity pay and an increase in the district contribution to family health insurance, and recruitment and retention stipends of $1,500 in each year of the contract funded with one-time COVID-19 relief funds. The total percentage cost of the two-year package is 6.97% without the one-time stipends and 10.90% with the stipends.

The total percentage cost of the two-year package is 6.97%.

Teachers will vote on the agreement at their school sites Dec. 15 and, if approved, the Board of Education will vote on the agreement at the scheduled board meeting later that evening.