The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education ratified during their meeting on Monday night a one-year contract extension with the teachers and staff represented by the Kenai Peninsula Education Association. The new contract provides raises and more money for health care, and it is the first time in the history of the KPBSD that a one-year contract has been ratified.
Per the agreement between the two sides, teachers will receive a 3.5% raise for the 2024-25 school year, and support staff will receive a 6% raise.
KPEA President LaDawn Druce spoke about the importance to the association of retaining teachers as they headed into the negotiations. “That was our focus with this one-year agreement. It was to retain the teachers we have in the process and to do it quickly as contracts are getting ready to be issued.”
According to Druce, 74% of the KPEA voted in favor of the one-year contract extension.
Nate Crabtree, the Director of Human Resources for the district, received high praise from everyone for his involvement in the collective bargaining process. According to multiple parties from the negotiation table, Crabtree was instrumental in the efficiency of the two parties reaching a quick and amicable agreement.
“I’ve been in this district a while those of you who know me know I’ve been part of this district for a very long time and I have honestly never experienced the collaborative nature and working together with anyone in the district office as much as Mr. Crabtree worked with us to get this process done,” said KPEA President LaDawn Druce.
“This District has really worked on the culture of the district, and I think it’s showing up today with these agreements. And we have to keep doing it,” said KPBSD Superintendent Clayton Holland.
District employees will also receive a $200 increase in the amount of money provided by the district to pay for health care costs, such as toward their deductible or a doctor visit. That amount is an increase from $800 to $1,000.
The full board meeting discussion of the contract ratification can be found on the KPBSD BoardDocs webpage when the meeting recording is made available for stream.
