Labor Negotiations

St. Louis Park Public Schools and its employee labor groups are united by a shared commitment to providing each student with a high-quality, equitable educational experience, as made evident in our strategic plan.

Our Discussions are Rooted In:

Collaboration, Transparency, and Trust
We believe that open, honest communication and shared problem-solving lead to stronger outcomes. We are committed to transparent processes that build mutual trust and ensure all stakeholders are informed and engaged.
Respect for Staff Voice and Professional Expertise
We honor the knowledge, lived experience, and contributions of our educators and staff. Their voices are essential in shaping working conditions that support well-being, retention, and professional growth.
Fiscal Responsibility and Shared Commitment
We recognize our responsibility to steward public resources wisely while meeting the needs of staff and students. We aim to reach fair, sustainable agreements that reflect shared ownership of our district’s success.
Racial Equity and Student-Centered Outcomes
Every decision we make prioritizes what’s best for students—especially those furthest from opportunity. We are committed to dismantling systemic barriers and ensuring all students experience belonging, access, and success.

2025-26 Employee Labor Groups and Upcoming Discussions

CE Educators

02/24/2026	Board approval.
2/18/2026	Ratification vote.
2/12/2026	Tentative agreements on economic proposals-wages and benefits.
01/30/2026	Next meeting.
01/16/2026	CE Educators and the District reached 5 TA. We continued to discuss other proposals submitted by both sides.
12/19/2025	CE Educators proposals were discussed with the Executive Director and Districts negotiation team
12/12/2025	Introductions and meeting norms were established. CE Educators presented their economic proposals. The district will review and introduce counter proposals and district proposals at the next meeting.

EM-SPARK

03/09/2026	SPARK voted and ratified the contract.
02/25/2026	Tentative agreement was reached on all proposals. Members will vote on March 9 to ratify the contract. March 24 the ratified contract goes to the Board for approval.
02/11/2026	Five tentative agreements were reached on non-economic proposals by SPARK and the District withdrew 1 proposal
01/28/2026	Next meeting.
01/14/2026	SPARK presented 5 non-economic proposals, TA was reached on 2 non-economic proposals. The District and SPARK reviewed proposals submitted and discussed.
12/10/2025	Introductions and meeting norms were discussed. The district also discussed what proposals will be presented at the next meeting.

CAPS-Clerical

12/18/2025	CAPS members voted to approve their new contract. Presentation to the Board is scheduled for January 27.
12/4/2025 (2)	CAPS and the District came to tentative agreements on both economic and non-economic proposals. The contract will go to CAPS members for a vote then to the board for approval on January 27.
11/21/2025 (1)	The meeting began with introductions, followed by a discussion of CAPS and the district’s proposal submission and review. Counterproposals will be submitted at the next session.

P.A.T. Teachers

2/24/2026	Board Approved
01/16/2026	PAT voted and ratified their contract on Friday, January 16. The contract goes to the board for approval on January 27
12/18/2025 (11)	Review all proposals with PAT for accuracy and consistency in preparation for TA agreement, vote and board approval. Today PAT and the District reached a tentative agreement on all proposals. PAT will hold sessions after winter break for members to ask questions, followed by the vote and presentation to the board on January 27.
12/8/25 (10)	Agreements were reached on the remaining proposals. PAT and the District will meet to review all proposals and confirm the agreements..
12/04/2025 (9)	PAT and the District reached tentative agreements on five non-economic proposals. PAT introduced an MOU, which the District will review for the next meeting. There are currently 6 pending proposals between PAT and the District.
11/20/2025 (8)	PAT and the District discussed our counterproposals, which the District presented at our meeting on November 13. Some headway was made, and other options are being explored for Teacher Day language and classroom size. The District is reviewing the PAT economic counter proposal to be discussed at the next meeting.
11/13/2025 (7)	The District presented a counterproposal to the PAT's language regarding Teacher Day and grievance procedures. Also presented were economic proposals covering salary and benefits, among other items. A tentative agreement was reached on a portion of the Teacher Day Language. Class size, case, and workload limitations were discussed. Additional clarification and discussion took place regarding non-economic language.
11/06/2025 (6)	PAT presented counter language for the Teacher Day proposal as well as an economic proposal for salary, benefits, new class size language, case load and workload limitations.
10/09/2025 (5)	PAT reviewed the District’s counter language for the Teacher Day proposal. PAT will return with counter language. The District will also modify language based on discussion.
09/18/2025 (4)	One principal from elementary and secondary schools joined the negotiations meeting to dialogue and share their perspectives on the teacher day proposal language submitted by P.A.T. The exchange of ideas and perspectives from both sides was productive and useful for drafting counter language to P.A.T. 's proposal, which will be presented at the next meeting.
08/19/2025 (3)	P.A.T. and the District reviewed the new Teacher Day language. P.A.T. provided more detailed rationale and examples for the proposed additional language. The language changes preparation time to planning time. The new language also defines the number of meetings, school events, and non-instructional time. The District proposed counter language to P.A.T. MN Paid Leave language.
08/08/2025 (2)	P.A.T. presented two proposals: MN Paid Leave Language and new language for Teacher Work Day and Year. The union will present additional proposals at our next meeting, and the district will also present proposals at the next meeting.
07/22/2025 (1)	Introductions and negotiation shared values. The District shared the negotiation process.

Principals and Assistant Principals

03/17/2026	Next meeting.
02/26/2026	The District presented wages and benefit packages. Principals will draft a counter proposal for presentation at the next meeting.
02/12/2026	Further discussion regarding principal day duties and wage proposal introduced.
01/29/2026	Initial meeting.

SEIU-284-Custodian

10/28/2025	The board approved a new contract.
10/23/2025	The union voted to ratify the contract. The contract will go to the School Board for approval at the 10/28/2025 Business Meeting.
10/08/2025	SEIU and Human Resources reviewed salary placement and agreed on updates in the upcoming contract. A tentative summary agreement was reached. The members will vote on the contract on October 23, 2025. The contract goes to the Board for approval on October 28, 2025.
09/30/2025 (7)	SEIU and the District have agreed on a contract agreement for the 2025-2027 cycle. On October 8, a work session is scheduled to review all proposals from both sides and review the redlined contract. Once complete, SEIU is expected to vote for ratification on October 23, 2025.
09/16/2025 (6)	Negotiations were highly productive. The District presented a competitive economic package of wages and benefits to the SEIU committee. This includes, but is not limited to, adjustments to vacation accruals and an alternate way to administer career increments. The District reached two tentative agreements, declined 5 SEIU proposals, and withdrew two proposals.
08/21/2025 (5)	SEIU and the District reviewed the District’s salary and health insurance contribution proposals. SEIU countered both districts' proposals. SEIU withdrew three proposals and will draft counter language to the District’s School Closing proposal. SEIU is reviewing the MN Paid Leave language from the District and will draft a new proposal for sick leave payout. SEIU also proposed reinstating personal days to their contract because other contracts have both personal and vacation leave.
08/06/2025 (4)	Reviewed three counter proposals from the union and one district proposal that the union rejected. The District presented and discussed the costing of our economic package. The union will caucus and return with a response at the next session. Information on the new MN Paid Leave Law was shared, reviewed, and discussed. The new law will have an impact on HR processes and the budget.
07/21/2025 (3)	The District presented and discussed the costing figures of the union’s economic proposals. Three district proposals were tentatively agreed upon, and the union will present four counterproposals at the next session.
07/02/2025 (2)	The District submitted seven non-economic proposals and provided a rationale for each. Six union proposals were declined. Nine economic and one non-economic union proposals are currently under review for negotiation. Five tentative agreements were reached.
06/16/2025 (1)	Introductions and negotiation shared values. The union submitted twenty-one (21) proposals that included non-economic and economic items. The business agent reviewed each proposal and provided a rationale.

SEIU-284 School Nutrition

11/25/2025	Review by Board for approval. Approved.
11/17/2025	The union voted to ratify the contract. The contract will go to the School Board for approval at the 11/25/2025 Business Meeting.
10/29/2025 (6)	The District and SEIU reviewed the agreed upon tentative agreements. Voting takes place on November 17 at the District Office. The agreement is presented at the November 25 board meeting for approval.
10/14/2025 (5)	SEIU reviewed the district’s salary and step placement proposal. Both sides will continue to review to ensure accuracy. The next meeting will include final review and a tentative agreement confirmation.
09/25/2025 (4)	SEIU responded positively to the District’s most recent economic proposals for wages and benefits. Tentative agreements were met on the salary schedule and benefit contributions. Both parties collaboratively worked though questions to get additional clarity on summer pay and the alternate career increment pay.
09/16/2025 (3)	The District presented a strong economic package of wages and benefits to the School Nutrition group. The district agreed to an additional holiday to align with other groups and introduced an alternate way to administer career increments. The District reached two tentative agreements and declined one proposal.
08/11/2025 (2)	The District submitted its non-economic language proposals. The union withdrew a non-economic proposal and reached a tentative agreement on 3 district proposals. One district proposal is under review. The District reached a tentative agreement on 2 SEIU proposals, with eight economic and non-economic proposals pending negotiation. At the next scheduled meeting, the District will submit wage and benefits proposals.
07/2/2025 (1)	Introductions and negotiation shared values. The union submitted proposals, economic and non-economic, and provided an overview.

Shared Negotiation Values and Process

Good Faith Bargaining – Good faith bargaining requires that the parties refrain from making proposals that move the parties away from settlement. Proposals which increase the differences in the parties’ proposals are not consistent with good faith bargaining. As a result, such proposals will not be made by the parties. Attend all scheduled sessions with the intention of bargaining in good faith and moving the process toward a settlement.

Mutual Respect – The parties agree to treat each other with respect, to avoid emotional outbursts, to avoid personal attacks, and to keep their focus on the best interest of students.

Proposals - All proposals will be in writing. Whenever possible, language proposals will use redlining to
show proposed additions and strikeout to show proposed deletions. Upon request, parties will share an electronic copy of its written proposal to the other party.

Rationale - Each party is encouraged to provide a concise rationale for each proposal, including
financial proposals.

Caucus - During bargaining sessions, either party may request a caucus at any time. The caucus length will be agreed upon prior to each caucus. If the caucus will last longer than the agreed upon time, courtesy dictates informing the other party. Caucuses will not take place at the time at which the meeting is scheduled to begin unless both parties have agreed to in advance.

Tentative Agreements (TA) - The goal is for the negotiations teams to reach a tentative agreement. When this tentative agreement is reached, the district’s negotiations team is agreeing to recommend its passage to the Board and the Union’s membership. The Union will ratify, according to its by-laws, the collective bargaining agreement first. Ratification by the School Board will follow Union ratification.