​Detroit Schools, Teachers Union Reach Contract Agreement

DETROIT, MI — The Detroit Public Schools Community District and the Detroit Federation of Teachers Local 231 have reached agreement on a one-year successor contract, the entities announced in a news release Tuesday.

The parties began bargaining in February, prior to the COVID-19 mandatory school closure, and agreed to confine the negotiations to a one-year term due to the uncertainty of school funding in proceeding years, the district said.

“A lot of people and school districts talk about being 'teacher first' or 'teacher centric' but they lack the actual track record, experience, commitment and ability to problem solve through complicated budgets and competing interests to make it happen," Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said. "This administrative team and School Board has delivered on its promise to improve salaries, benefits and working conditions to retain and recruit teachers, even amid a pandemic.

“Our work is not done. We must overcome a legacy of inequitable funding to be fully competitive with surrounding districts at every experience level, but it is undeniable that we are making tremendous progress. We will continue to work at this until our teachers are the highest paid in the country. This is what they deserve and more importantly, this is what our children deserve to receive the education they need.”

Vitti and DFT President Terrance Martin agreed to terms on Sept. 24. DFT members ratified the agreement on Oct. 5.

This is the third contract agreement between DFT, the current superintendent and the DPSCD Board of Education over a four-year period, which has also included the signing of dozens of letters of agreement on various reform topics, the district said.

The school board is expected to officially approve the agreement at its October board meeting.

Since 2017, DPSCD teachers have incurred pay increases — some as high as $15,000 in three years — since DPSCD returned to local control under an elected school board and appointed superintendent, according to a news release. It also includes a starting salary for teachers that the district said is the highest in the state.

The agreement support what the district said is a continued progress of attracting and retaining teachers; at the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year, the district had 275 teacher vacancies but started this year with fewer than 50, concentrated mainly in special education, the district said.

“One of the District’s priorities is to support exceptional talent," Detroit Public Schools Community District School Board President Iris Taylor said. "As a board we knew in 2017 our teachers deserved salary increases, best in class professional development, and a clear pathway to growth.

“Over the past three years, we have upheld our promise to Detroit’s teachers and staff. Starting teacher salaries have increased by more than $15,000 ($35,682.30 to $51,019), average teacher salaries have increased by more than $13,000 ($56,921 to $70,380), and maximum teacher salaries have increased nearly $10,000 ($66,264 to $76,027).”