At a special meeting, the RPD School Board approved the 2025–26 teachers collective bargaining agreement, adopting a one‑time $2,000 stipend, a $200 base increase for teachers who hold an early‑literacy endorsement and several changes to leave and implementation timelines.

Dr. Sanders, district superintendent, presented a summary of the tentative agreement and reminded the board that the district held a required public hearing on Oct. 21. He told the board the agreement calls for convening a committee to review the extracurricular (ECA) schedule and complete any changes by the end of 2025 so adjustments can be made retroactive to the start of the 2025–26 school year.

The agreement adds language on paid leave that the district characterized as more precise: where previously a teacher taking a day off immediately before or after a break would be charged two paid leave days, the new wording specifies a teacher would lose one paid leave day for every half‑day taken. The contract also increases paid parental leave from five to ten days.

On compensation, Dr. Sanders said the district will not change base salaries for the 2025–26 school year. He said teachers who hold an early‑literacy endorsement will receive a $200 base increase, and all eligible teachers will receive a one‑time $2,000 stipend. Dr. Sanders said the district will also seek approval to pay stipends to principals and support staff, with plans to pay the one‑time stipends in a single payout after Thanksgiving or in early December.

Board members asked about the funding source; Dr. Sanders confirmed stipends will come from the education fund and said the fund has sufficient balance to support the payouts. Board members raised concerns about relying on one‑time stipends instead of moving the pay grid, noting potential longer‑term financial implications and the role of state legislative changes in district budgeting.

Dr. Sanders described the early‑literacy endorsement as an 80‑hour professional‑development requirement, noting Orton‑Gillingham (OG) training already provided by the district covers part of that requirement (about 25 hours) and the state offers a separate $1,500 stipend for completing the full endorsement. He said the state has provided a window through 2027 for teachers to meet the requirement and that only a small number of current teachers ("three or four," per the presentation) are affected immediately.

A board member moved approval of the tentative agreement and a second followed. The board approved the contract by voice vote; the chair called for ayes and the motion carried.

Action and next steps: the board will be asked at the November meeting to approve stipends for principals and support staff; staff will circulate implementation forms once posted to internal bookmarks. The board did not adopt a base salary increase for 2025–26.