LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Jefferson County Public Schools and the teachers union reached a tentative deal to extend their collective bargaining agreement through 2028, but some members of the union are split on the proposal.

The changes are tied to the district's ongoing budget challenges.

The district originally planned to cut $30 million from teacher contracts to help address a massive budget deficit. According to the Jefferson County Teachers Association, that didn't happen.

"One of the things the district said upfront prior to bargaining was an advertised $30 million savings to our contract," JCTA President Maddie Shepard said. "We are proud to say that did not happen."

The union said the actual cuts are closer to $7.5 million, a figure that does not include new costs added into the deal.

Under the proposed agreement, teachers would not receive COLA — a cost-of-living adjustment — next year. Instead, bargaining unit members would receive a one-time, $2,000 stipend, which the union said would cost the district nearly $30 million for all members. 

"A $2,000 one-time payment is not going to make up the difference of us not getting a COLA," said Kelly Peak, an academic instructional coach in JCPS.

The agreement also phases out extra pay for teachers in struggling schools such as AIS or Choice Zone schools — money meant to attract and retain staff in some of the lowest-performing buildings.

That stipend would be reduced over by 25% annually over four years until it is eliminated, amounting to about a $2,000 pay cut for most teachers. JCTA said the money lost from this would be made up with the one-time stipend. 

"We put in a ton of extra work, so having that stipend taken away is kind of a slap in the face," Peak said.

Shepard said the union worked to limit those reductions.

"Despite proposed and publicly stated efforts to get rid of the stipends all together, we were able to mitigate that and there will only be a 25% reduction," Shepard said.

Rather than negotiating a full contract, the union agreed to an extension through 2028 "in hope" that the district would be in a "better financial position" by then.

The agreement includes a provision that if the board raises taxes, at least half of that new revenue must go toward teacher raises.

"You can only subtract so much before you have to start adding," Shepard said.

For some teachers, the deal still falls short.

"Yes, it's about the money but it's also about doing what's best for kids," Peak said. "And that's not what we're doing right now."

Peak said she plans to vote no. 

"I'm hoping that enough teachers vote no so they have to go back to the bargaining table," she said.

The contract extension also includes working condition improvements such as planning time protections, further class size caps, expanded family leave and layoff protections. 

"This is the most responsible and best agreement that we could get at this time," Shepard said.

JCTA members have until Saturday to vote on the agreement. If approved, it will go before the Jefferson County Board of Education at its next meeting.

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