The David Douglas School District Board of Directors voted Wednesday to ratify a collective bargaining agreement between the district and OSEA Chapter 40 covering classified employees.

Board members, district negotiators and union leaders described the agreement as the product of multiple bargaining sessions and a spirit of partnership. Darla Black, a classified leader who spoke during the meeting, said the agreement was “rooted in respect, a shared commitment to the people that make our schools run every day.”

Union president Alice Everharder congratulated the new and returning board members and said the bargaining team worked “tirelessly to craft a contract that serves and respects staff,” adding that the process included ongoing communication with the union and district human resources. Superintendent Ken Richardson and district staff thanked the bargaining teams and said they believed the agreement honored the district’s classified workforce, whose roles include transportation, nutrition and custodial services.

District staff said the bargaining process included six sessions, reference checks and administrative support from the business and HR offices. The district credited both teams for remaining solution-oriented during complex discussions.

The board called for and completed a ratification vote at the meeting; district staff then arranged for on-site signing and a group photo with bargaining representatives. The union reported it had already ratified the contract on its side prior to the board vote.

Board members and district leaders noted the agreement came during a year of fiscal pressure and called the settlement an effort to retain classified staff while balancing budget realities. District leaders said they stand ready to answer further questions as the agreement is implemented and thanked bargaining team members by name during public remarks.

The board’s ratification is a formal, binding step; the contract will be implemented according to its terms and the districts’ administrative processes.

The district said it would distribute the finalized contract language and next steps to staff and post the executed agreement following the customary administrative processing.