School board ratifies new teacher contracts

WARREN — Educators in Warren Woods Public Schools started the 2024-2025 school year with a new contract.

At the district’s Sept. 9 Board of Education meeting, the school board voted 6-0 to approve the new contract for the Warren Woods Education Association. Trustee Jenny Nitz abstained from voting because her husband is a teacher in the district.

The contract, effective immediately following the meeting, expires June 30, 2027. Contract negotiations began in May, and topics included the calendar, evaluations, discipline, layoffs, recall placement and salary.

School Board President Michael Schulte thanked Assistant Superintendent Neil Cassabon and Warren Woods Tower High School Principal Ian Fredlund for “all their hard work” involving the negotiations. He also acknowledged the union committee.

“We certainly know how much time and energy it takes to serve on the bargaining committee,” Schulte said. “I appreciate everything you’ve all done to make our district better.”

The contract covers 219 members of the WWEA who work at various schools throughout the district. WWEA President Michele Bastian was pleased with the vote.

“I think we’ve come to an agreement that we are very proud of as a team,” Bastian said. “I think it will be something lasting for Warren Woods that will keep our community strong and our district even stronger. We appreciate your consideration.”

Bastian, who works in various capacities at Westwood Elementary, thanked members of the bargaining team — as well as Superintendent Stacey Denewith-Fici, Cassabon and Fredlund — for their time on negotiations.

“We believe we have a contract for which all parties can be proud,” Denewith-Fici said via email. “The new contract recognizes the hard work of our professionals with an average compensation increase of 19% over the three years while maintaining high expectations for teacher evaluation and keeping student needs at the forefront of all decisions.”

The amount of salary increases in the new contract varies by teacher and how long they have been employed in the district.

“Over the course of the contract we estimate that the average teacher base salary in WWPS before longevity or any other stipends or extra duty assignments will increase from $78,560 to $92,226,” Denewith-Fici said. “In addition, all teachers who taught for us last year and have returned (for) the 2024-25 school year will receive a retention bonus of between $1,000 and $1,500 in October of this year.”

Raises are based on the number of years with the district and which type of college degree or degrees of the teacher. More than half of the district’s teachers have been with the district for more than 10 years.

Per the new contract, the superintendent said a Warren Woods teacher with a master’s degree who has reached the top of the salary schedule will have a base salary of $100,736 in the 2026-2027 school year.

Under the new contract, the district will follow the Charlotte Danielson “Framework for Teaching” as the basis for 80% of the teacher’s evaluation. The evaluation model defines effective teaching practices and organizes teaching responsibilities into four key domains: planning and preparation, classroom environment, instruction and professional responsibilities. The framework was developed to help teachers focus on specific competencies to improve instructional quality and enhance student learning outcomes.

The remaining 20% of the teacher evaluation is based on student growth and assessment, which includes measurable progress students make over time from common assessments, standardized tests, student learning objectives and other goals.

There were no changes in the number of sick days in the new contract. WWEA members are allotted 11 days per year for sick or personal leave, and the days can be accumulated without limit. The teachers, too, can earn up to five additional leave days each school year if they substitute for other teachers during their prep period and bank the time.

School officials believe the new contract benefits the students as it helps attract and retain highly qualified educators, which ultimately enhances the quality of instruction. It also will boost morale among the teachers.

“This contract ratification boosts morale by giving teachers a sense of security and recognition for their efforts, knowing their work is valued through fair compensation and support,” Denewith-Fici said. “It fosters a positive work environment, promoting collaboration and commitment to student success.”

Warren Woods Tower High School science teacher and football coach Adam Diaz, who came to the Sept. 9 meeting from football practice, believes the new contract will keep employees in the district.

“I want to say thank you for this contract. I feel this is a contract that’s going to make people stay here,” said Diaz, whose two children attend school in the district. “That’s to the benefit of my kids. My kids get to get teachers here that want to be here.”

Warren Woods Tower High School science teacher Melissa Chesher, whose three children are students in the district, also addressed the school board.

“A great contract benefits my family personally. We do not live in the district. I choose to bring my children here because I feel like it’s a great place,” she said. “I think this contract, like Adam said, will do a lot to keep those great people here. This was my first time negotiating. It was a learning experience.”