Ann Arbor teachers cut back duties as contract talks stall over pay
Contract talks between Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) and its teachers have reached a standstill. Educators are now cutting back on after-school duties and detailed student feedback until a deal is reached. The dispute centres on pay and working conditions, with teachers demanding higher wages after years without a cost-of-living increase. Teachers last received a cost-of-living raise in 2006—a 2.5% bump. Since then, salaries have stagnated, pushing some educators to leave mid-year. Matthew Johnson, a teacher and former AAPS student, highlighted the difficulty of filling vacancies due to the current pay scale.
The school board has yet to respond publicly to the concerns. During a recent meeting, officials made no decisions or comments on community input, despite strong public support for the teachers. Tamala Bell, vice president of the Ann Arbor Education Association, noted that in her 23 years with the district, her contract has only expired once—until now. Negotiations will continue on Thursday, with state mediators joining the discussions. Teachers claim the board wants them to swap previously agreed benefits for a higher salary. Until an agreement is reached, they plan to limit extra duties, including after-school programmes and in-depth student critiques.
The dispute has already led to reduced support for students outside regular hours. With no resolution in sight, educators and the school board will return to the table this week. The outcome will determine whether teachers resume full duties or escalate their actions.
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