Pueblo teachers reach tentative agreement with district for 2 percent pay hike

Colorado’s first teachers’ strike in 24 years ended Saturday with Pueblo teachers winning a long-sought 2 percent pay hike.

The strike lasted five days. In a joint statement issued Saturday night, all sides said they looked “forward to a year of healing and restoration of relationships, including  the community.”

The tentative agreement is good through the 2018-19 school year and covers the Pueblo Education Association — which represents the teachers — and the Pueblo Paraprofessional Education Association and the district. Initial verbal votes among teachers weighed in favor of accepting the offer. Official voting closes at 5 p.m. Sunday.

The teachers will get a 2 percent cost-of-living raise for the 2017-18 school year, retroactive from January. Teachers also will be paid by the district for three days they were out of class.

The other two days are considered excused leave days, and teachers can claim them as personal days or they can work two days beyond their contract to make up for the lost pay, according to the agreement. “One way or another, we want them covered for those two days, ” teachers association spokeswoman Jacqueline Riggs said.

In September, association teachers will get a step on the salary scale, a 2.5 percent cost-of-living increase and an extra  $50 monthly in the district’s insurance premium contribution.

The paraprofessionals will get a $500 one-time stipend payable in June. Starting in September, they will receive two steps on the salary increase, a 3.25 percent cost-of-living increase and an extra $50 monthly in the district’s insurance premium contribution, according to the agreement.

The paraprofessionals also will be paid for three days of the strike, with the same option of working two extra days beyond their contract.

Tensions have long been brewing between the teachers and district. A third-party fact-finder found the district had enough funds to pay for the 2 percent hike. But the district said the raises would cost it approximately $1.2 million annually. The district already has a $3.6 million deficit this year.