Minneapolis education support professionals reach tentative agreement with district
MINNEAPOLIS — One day after filing an intent to strike, education support professionals for Minneapolis Public Schools have reached a tentative agreement with the district.
Union leaders said terms of the agreement won't be made public until members have reviewed it.
"I'm so proud of what we've done together," said Catina Taylor, president of the ESP chapter of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers. "We're raising wages and we're creating a compensation system that recognizes the value of experience in the district. This agreement will attract more educators to our schools and encourage our current staff to stay and keep building trusting relationships with our students. Agreements like this are how we keep Minneapolis students safe, learning and engaged."
"Our education support professionals are essential and play an important role in our student's lives," MPS Superintendent Dr. Lisa Sayles-Adams said. "I am excited that we have reached a tentative agreement and look forward to continued partnership with our ESPs as we work together to ensure that MPS is the district of choice for Minneapolis families."
The deal was reached after a 27-hour negotiation session with a state mediator, the two sides said in a joint statement. Union members will vote on the contract next week.
Last Friday, education support professionals voted in favor of authorizing a strike after going without a contract for more than 300 days.
Sticking points in the contract included wages, working hours per week and health insurance. ESPs said they were also demanding steps to reward experience and encourage retention, a system that is similar to the teacher's contract.
"Education support professionals deserve a living wage, affordable health care, and recognition of their experience and training as teachers do," said Taylor before the tentative agreement was in place. "This is what we need to retain ESPs and keep the students learning, safe and engaged. Negotiations shouldn't be this hard."
The teacher's chapter of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers announced a tentative agreement with Minneapolis Public Schools last week — giving the teachers their biggest raise in 25 years.
MPS faces a budget deficit of $110 million, which Sayles-Adams said will grow in the wake of the contract agreement, with the potential for staff reductions.
Also in the metro, teachers for Lakeville Area Schools filed their intent to strike on Tuesday.
