HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, June 20, 2023) – It’s a tale of two cities … or better yet, two school boards along the Lakeshore.
On Monday night, the Holland Board of Education approved a two-year contract with the Holland Education Association, assuring that unionized teachers and staff will be on board for the start of classes on August 23rd.
The deal includes around a 12 percent average pay hike for instructors in the first year, with an additional increase possible depending on student enrollment and subsequent state per-pupil funding. It also provides more time for teacher professional growth through early release on most Wednesdays, cutting down on half-days, and the district is working on plans for free after-school programs on those early release days.
The issue of half-days for teacher enrichment was apparently the biggest reason why earlier this month the Zeeland Board of Education shot down a one-year tentative collective bargaining agreement with the Zeeland Education Association. A number of parents and other stakeholders objected to a provision that would have established 24 half days on the school calendar, four more than the just-completed Academic 2023 year, and more than twice the number in neighboring districts. The district and the union are expected back at the bargaining table to try and come up with a new agreement.
The Holland contract was reached after 10 days and over 25 hours of negotiations that began in February.
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