Bargaining season is here for Grand Forks public school employee unions in 2025 – Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS – Unions representing teachers, principals and some administrators have taken the first step by beginning biennial contract negotiations with Grand Forks Public Schools.

School board members signed receipt of notices of intent to negotiate Monday from the Grand Forks Education Association, the Grand Forks Principals’ Association and the Grand Forks Director’s Association.

The decision, largely procedural, sets the stage for spring contract negotiations between the three unions and the school board.

“This starts the formal process that says, ‘Hey, our current contract expires at the end of the year and we want to begin negotiations for the next contract period,'” said Eric Ripley, president of the directors’ association.

The two-year contracts for all three groups end on June 30. Negotiations will probably begin in May; Negotiations between the district and the three bargaining units are separate, but will begin at approximately the same time and occur simultaneously.

All negotiating parties will closely monitor how the Legislature votes on K-12 funding and other school issues ahead of their own negotiations.

“Our negotiations really revolve around Parliament and what is decided in Bismarck during the legislative session,” said Terry Bohan, president of the directors association.

It is too early to say which issues will come to the forefront during the negotiations. School board President Dave Berger said none of the three school board committees that will negotiate individually with the unions have met so far this school year; each member of the school board will serve on at least one of these committees.

Both Ripley and Bohan said they expect discussions about salaries, benefits and work hours.

GFEA Vice President Joe Drumm said the teachers union hopes to continue the progress from the 2023 negotiations.

“Last time we sat down, we made incredible progress in improving our competitive pay compared to other large school districts,” Drumm said, referring to substantial pay increases won by the union after years of stagnation salaries.

He also said he expects a more collegial negotiating atmosphere than in previous years.

Growing support for special educators and pegging athletic trainer contracts to market value should also be addressed in negotiations between the district and the GFEA.

The principals association represents about 10 district staff members — “anyone with the word ‘principal’ in their title,” said Ripley, executive director of CTE and technology.

The principals association represents the district’s 28 principals and associate principals, according to Bohan, while GFEA members include more than half of the district’s educators and negotiate on behalf of all certified staff.

Separately, board members gave approval for Grand Forks Public Schools to enter into a cooperative purchasing agreement with North Dakota’s largest school districts.

Business Manager Brandon Baumbach said the joint powers agreement, which includes the Fargo, West Fargo, Bismarck, Mandan and Williston school districts, gives the district another opportunity to get a lower rate for purchases over $50,000.

“It’s one more tool in the toolbox,” Baumbach said, adding that the district would not be required to use the cooperative agreement as part of its normal bidding process.

Eight members voted in favor of the purchase agreement; Board member Jay Kleven criticized the deal as “reinventing the wheel” and was the only one to vote against it.

Joshua Irvine covers K-12 and higher education for the Grand Forks Herald. He can be contacted at [email protected].