The Colorado Springs District 11 Board of Education voted Wednesday night to update their contract agreement with the Colorado Springs Education Association for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Following the annual series of discussions with the teachers union, the district reached a tentative agreement with CSEA on May 10 and subsequently approved it during the special meeting.

Adjustments include a 1% increase to the teachers’ current salaries, a 6.5% compensation payment in November and May and funding for academic credits.

Similar adjustments and increases to salaries and benefits also were approved for education support professionals and executive professionals employed in the district.

Additionally, educational support professionals who have worked for the district for 10 consecutive years will receive a yearly $350 bonus.

A two-year grant program for designated schools to provide additional resources, training and time also was agreed upon in the bargaining. The reason for the program is to prevent potential staffing shortages in identified schools.

Schools that qualify have already been designated for the upcoming year, though they were not specified in the agreement and will be able to opt out of the program.

Board members acknowledged the lack of contention during this year’s negotiations and welcomed the terms agreed upon. Board President Parth Melpakam cited the new grant program as the latest example of new solutions from past negotiations focusing on student achievement.

“Overall, I think these solve some of the issues that have been plaguing the district,” he said.

The CSEA did not immediately respond to a voice message seeking comment by the Gazette.

Other items

Later in the meeting, an appropriation resolution for the district’s 2024-25 budget was presented to the board for adoption before a final vote for approval next month.

A combination of new state funding, projected student growth in the district’s charter schools and other approved funding projects an increase of more than $16 million for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Student enrollment for D-11’s K-12 schools is projected to stay consistent at 19,396, while charter school students look to increase by 1,150. The state’s fiscal budget recently signed into law looks to increase the district’s per pupil revenue by $748, giving the district a total of $254 million. When other revenues and resources are factored in, the total becomes $398 million.

New expenditures from the general fund include nearly $23.7 million in compensation and benefits, $1 million toward a new summer bridge program and various professional growth and development investments.

Other funds projected for the next year include more than $211 million set aside for capital reserve projects, $130 million of which come from a certificate of participation (COP) that was approved earlier in the meeting. Rather than a bond or mil levy override, a COP use existing funds for capital projects rather than tax dollars passed through a ballot vote. Potential plans for the COP include renovating Palmer High School, HVAC upgrades and bathroom upgrades.

Along with new available funding, Superintendent Michael Gaal pointed out how previous planning had prevented the district from suffering any major losses that could have occurred through the loss of ESSER funds from years past and through anticipatory saving of funds.

“This is probably the strongest budget in my two years here,” he said.

After the meeting, the board reconvened shortly for a work session to further discuss the budget.

The final vote whether to approve the budget will be held on June 12.