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SPFE Negotiations Update: January 19, 2024

Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) and the Saint Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) held their first negotiations meeting of 2024 on Thursday, Jan. 18, to continue working toward agreements on the next contracts for Teachers, Educational Assistants (EAs) and School and Community Services Personnel (SCSP). It was a productive meeting with two more tentative agreements reached, bringing the total to four tentative agreements. 

The two new tentative agreements are:

  • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on E-Learning: This agreement will go to the Board of Education for approval on Jan. 23 and go into effect immediately. Staff and families will receive more information after the agreement is approved by the Board.

  • SPPS Proposal 1 Steps Hours (EAs): This agreement changes the eligibility requirement for educational assistants to advance to the next step in the wage schedule from 90 days to 660 hours.

SPPS also provided counter proposals on wages for all three groups. The new wage proposals are:

  • Teachers 
    • Year 1: 2% cost of living allowance increase, with an additional 1% for teachers in steps 5-8 and lanes 3-6
    • Year 2: 1.75% cost of living allowance increase
    • Annual longevity increase of $1,300 starting in year 21 of service

  • Educational Assistants
    • Year 1: 2.5% cost of living allowance increase
    • Year 2: 1.75% cost of living allowance increase
    • Year 3: 1.5% cost of living allowance increase
    • Longevity increases of $1.65 per hour in year 15, $2.15 per hour in year 20 and $2.50 per hour in year 25 of service

  • School and Community Service Personnel
    • Year 1: 2% cost of living allowance increase
    • Year 2: 1.75% cost of living allowance increase
    • Year 3: 1.5% cost of living allowance increase
    • Longevity increases of $1,800 in year 15, $2,100 in year 20 and $2,300 in year 25 of service

Summaries of all proposals to date are available on the SPPS Negotiations website. 

SPPS and SPFE will have their first mediation session on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Mediation is closed to the public. The bargaining teams will continue to meet between mediation sessions, with a goal of continuing to reach tentative agreements and working toward settling fair and financially sound contracts for our educators.