Medford, Ore. — With less than two months until the contract between the Medford School Board and the Medford Education Association expires the two are coming together to negotiate terms on a new contract.
Wednesday the bargaining teams exchanged counter proposals, two weeks after submitting their initial proposals, for the contract that ends on June 30th.
The negotiations this time around have a different tone than they did two years ago when a 16-day teacher’s strike turned the school year upside down.
According to a letter posted on the district’s website, the school board’s initial offer is a three-year contract which includes cost of living increases, step increases, and increases in the district’s contributions to PERS.
While they said a proposal also includes increases in medical contributions by the district and staff, cuts will also be needed. The letter said PERS increases have removed the district’s spending cushion, and they’re being forced to cut seven secondary teaching positions and restructure the Medford after school program to balance the budget.
President of Medford Education Association Dan Jones said they’ve offered a one-year contract and it’s important they receive a 3.8% cost of living allowance.
They have 120 school days to reach an agreement.
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