Anderson Schools, Union Reach Tentative Agreement

(photo courtesy of Ken de la Bastide/The Herald Bulletin)

Anderson Community Schools and the Anderson Federation of Teachers have reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement. Our partners at The Herald Bulletin report the proposed agreement would give teachers a base salary increase and stipends over the next two years.

The two sides had been at odds as the union was negotiating for a pay raise to cover increasing insurance costs, in addition to providing more income, according to the publication. Specific terms of the tentative agreement were not immediately made available.

“The success of our school corporation depends on our ability to recruit and retain the best educators for our students,” AFT President Randy Harrison and ACS Superintendent Dr. Joe Cronk said in a joint email statement. “This new collective bargaining agreement demonstrates our shared commitment in doing so. We are pleased that we can now move forward with a renewed focus and enthusiasm around advancing our school corporation.”

The new contract still requires ratification by AFT members and approval by the ACS Board of Trustees.