Aspen School Board approves collective bargaining agreement with Aspen Education Association
Three-year agreement includes salary increases, academic freedom for teachers
A collective bargaining agreement struck between the Aspen School District and its teachers’ union, Aspen Education Association, prompts academic freedom for teaching staff and an increased extra duty pay rate.
In a special meeting on Wednesday, the school board approved the three-year agreement — the second collective bargaining agreement AEA has negotiated with the district. Negotiations started in March, and the union ratified the agreement on May 10.
The agreement expanded academic freedom for educators to present instructional materials, “which are pertinent to the subject and level taught and within the outlines of appropriate course or program content as approved by the board and district,” according to the agreement.
“Academic freedom should also mean that educators are entitled to freedom of discussion within the classroom on all matters under study, which are relevant to the subject, assuming that this discussion follows the outlines of appropriate course content,” the contract states.
The academic freedom clause protects teachers from discipline who teach potentially controversial topics when instructing within the scope of school board policy and adopted curriculum. The teacher must notify and confer with their principal over the appropriateness of the lesson, must present a lesson that is consistent with recognized and accredited scholarships on the topic, must use materials relevant to the levels of ability and maturity of the students, and must maintain a classroom environment that is conducive to the free exchange and examination of ideas.
The agreement also increased the extra duty pay rate to $40 per hour for teachers and special service providers (SSP), including licensed counselors, psychologists, audiologists, nurses, occupational and physical therapists, social workers, speech-language pathologists, as well as orientation and mobility specialists. Extra duty pay is paid to teachers and SSPs who perform additional duties outside of their teaching duties.
AEA also negotiated pay increases, approving an average of 4-6% salary increases. It also approved new employee benefits, including upgrades to health insurance plans, increasing the wellness benefit for staff, and continuing the commuter benefit.
The contract is effective July 1 and will be in effect until June 2027.
Members of the negotiations team for AEA were President Stephanie Nixon, Vice president Marnie White, SkiCountry Uniserv representative Eric Hanson, and teachers Josh Anderson, Andy Farmer, Ada Friedman, Alex McQuillan, and Laura Swenson. SkiCountry Uniserv is a branch of the Colorado Education Association.
Members of the negotiating team for the district were Superintendent Dave Baugh, incoming superintendent Tharyn Mulberry, school board member Stacey Weiss, Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Mary Rodino, HR Director Amy Littlejohn, and Transportation Director Reghan Mahaffey.