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The 2021-22 fall school year in Detroit is already starting off on a high note, and for good reason: Increased pay for teachers, staff and retirees.
Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) and the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) Local 231, officially reached an agreement on a two-year successor contract, just in time for the start of the 21-22 school year, according to a press release.
DPSCD Superintendent Nikolai Vitti and DFT President Terrance Martin agreed to the terms on Thursday, August 26.
DFT members ratified the agreement recently on Thursday, September 1. The unit reached a safe reopening plan agreement in August which outlines additional hazard and blended learning bonuses while outlining agreed upon safety guidelines, the release added.
“The fact that the district and DFT have reached agreement on 4 contract agreements in 4 years (for the span of six years) means that we are delivering on our commitment to continually celebrate and enhance teachers in our district. Each contract agreement narrows the salary gap between our teachers and others throughout the state and area,” Vitti said. “It also signals that our reform work is headed in the right direction, especially when it comes to recruiting and retaining teachers. As we open the school year, we will have hired 100 extra teachers to reduce class size and build a bench for future teacher retirements.”
Vitti added that to “cross the finish line” to ensure DPSCD teachers are the highest-paid the school district will need to make some changes.
Vitti said that these changes encompass:
- Increasing enrollment
- Change inequitable local funding that allows wealthier districts to offer higher reoccurring salaries to teachers
Since 2017, DPSCD teachers have incurred steady pay increases — some as high as $15,000 in five years — since DPSCD returned to local control under an elected school board and appointed superintendent.
These actions back up the school district’s goal of attracting and retaining teachers and will assist in continuing to prepare for smaller class sizes and in anticipation of teachers eligible for retirement in the coming years.
DFT members include 4,343-unit members who directly serve students across 54 job classifications primarily functioning as teachers, master teachers, training and support coordinators, and auxiliary staff members such as academic interventionists, attendance agents, counselors, psychologists, social workers, and treating therapists that serve the school district’s most vulnerable student populations.
“One of the District’s priorities remains to support exceptional talent. As we navigate through this pandemic, we know that our teachers and our staff deserve the absolute best for their challenging work and continued dedication,” said Angelique Peterson-Mayberry, DPSCD Board of Education President. “When we started as a board in 2017, we knew that our teachers’ salaries needed to increase. Now, entering our fourth agreement, this has been a demonstrative commitment to working with our union leaders, and we remain committed to our relentless journey to ensure that our teachers are the highest paid in the state one day,” Peterson-Mayberry, DPSCD added that “much work has been done, yet it’s time to keep going.
“More work remains, and we thank the DFT Leadership Team for their collaboration and the shared vision for our teachers,” she also said.
This is the fourth contract agreement between DFT, the current Superintendent and the DPSCD Board of Education over a five-year period, which has also included the signing of dozens of Letters of Agreement on various reform topics. The Superintendent is authorized to negotiate on the School Board’s behalf in negotiations and receives thresholds of funding and terms as defined in closed sessions.
The School Board will officially approve the agreement at the September Board Meeting.
The negotiated terms of the 2020-2021 One-Year Tentative Agreement under consideration by DFT unit members include:
- Two-year agreement (SY 2021-2023)
- Top step veteran teachers will receive a 4% base wage increase each year (SY 21-22 and 22-23)
- New teachers hired at $51,000 will receive a 3% increase each year
- Retirees in the areas of ESE (formerly special education), K-8 self-contained teachers (teach all subject areas), secondary math, secondary science, and psychologists will be moved at the top step.
- Athletic coach supplements will increase by 10%
For more information, visit detroitk12.org
