Bethel teachers, district reach tentative deal on 3-year contract

Bethel School District and its teachers union, the Eugene Education Association, reached a tentative agreement late Monday, Dec. 15, after 10 bargaining sessions and two mediation meetings.

The three-year contract, if ratified, would give the 320 represented licensed teachers and education workers in the district a 13.5% cost of living adjustment and improve health and safety contract language among other benefits for workers.

“This is a historic win for Bethel educators and for the Bethel School District,” Talor Kirk, vice president of the Bethel Eugene Education Association, said in a statement. “Our bargaining team considers it a legacy contract, codifying the shared goal of building the best learning environment for students by supporting the educators who work with them day in and day out.”

In addition to the salary increase, the district will increase insurance contributions by 9% over the three-year contract. Bethel’s contract would also increase elementary and middle school teacher prep time from 250 minutes per week to 310. Added language would establish a collaborative approach between the union and district to determining staffing ratios and caseload targets throughout the year. Teachers would also have clear ways of getting support from leadership when facing class size and caseload issues, according to Kirk.

The contract also includes a first for an Oregon school district. Bethel educators who work long enough to reach full union-protected status in another Oregon school district — probation periods in Oregon schools last three years — would have only a one-year probationary period in Bethel. Previously probation in Bethel lasted three years, regardless of work in other districts.

Bethel Superintendent Kraig Sproles said the district will continue to monitor the state economic forecast and district budget and be transparent with staff and families, and Bethel communications director Alisha Dodds confirmed the contract will not cause the district to eliminate additional positions above what budget cuts already will require.

“We have strong working relationships with our teachers, who truly are the backbone of our district,” Sproles said in a statement. “Throughout this process, we’ve had many thoughtful conversations about work conditions and how we can continue building school environments where students, teachers and staff can all thrive. Reaching this tentative agreement is a reflection of that mutual respect and shared focus on what’s best for kids.”

The Eugene Education Association represents educators in Bethel and Eugene School District 4J and has two vice presidents who lead each district’s respective union branch. Eugene School District 4J’s current three-year contract, which runs from 2024-2027, has a 15% salary increase and 8.1% insurance contribution increase over three years.

This story has been updated with additional information.