DPS, teachers union clash as school district says it can’t fully fund next year’s raises

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But despite Colorado now set to funnel more money into K-12 schools, Denver Public Schools officials say that won’t be enough to fully fund teacher raises for the 2024-25 academic year.

Members and supporters of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association gather in front of Denver Public Schools headquarters demanding that DPS honors its three-year financial and COLA agreement on May 13, 2024, in Denver. Gov. Jared Polis joined lawmakers on the steps of the Colorado Capitol earlier this year to herald what they calledpledging to eliminate a Great Recession-era maneuver that for years has diverted billions of education dollars to other budget priorities.

“Denver Public Schools is backtracking on the agreement we fought to secure,” union president Rob Gould said during the rally, adding, “We’re calling on Denver Public Schools to uphold our financial agreement.” The crux of the dispute is whether DPS will receive enough money from the elimination of what’s known as the budget stabilization factor — which withheld funds from schools — to trigger the maximum 8.34% increase in teacher pay detailed in the 2022 contract. That would include a 5.2% cost-of-living increase.

For example, the “turnover savings” between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years was $10.8 million and the “steps and lanes” salary costs were $16.3 million, Gould said. This means the actual expense was $5.5 million because the “turnover savings” offset the “steps and lanes” cost, he said.“That’s not what the contract says and that’s never been discussed in the contract.

“This is not about educator greed,” said Dez Baldonado, a math and science teacher at West High School. “This is about quality of life. This is about equity.” Keeler: Avalanche gave Valeri Nichushkin a second chance. He blew it. It's time to move on. From him.

 

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