Union Members Approve New Teacher Contract

The Mat-Su Borough School District is one step closer to avoiding a teacher strike this fall.

On Saturday, the Mat-Su Education Association’s members ratified a contract that would take effect through Fiscal Year 2026.  The union had previously authorized a strike after the school district imposed its earlier contract offer.

Negotiations resumed this summer, resulting in the current deal. In a statement on Saturday, MSEA President Vicki Hewitt says that the contract begins to address inflation in terms of teacher salaries.  Another previously contentious issue, switching the health insurance provider for teachers from the Public Education Health Trust to Premera, remains in the contract, according to Hewitt.

In the contract vote, just under three-quarters of MSEA members who took part voted in favor of the deal.  The contract will now go to the school board for final approval at its August 2^nd meeting.

While teacher contracts may be resolved for the next few years, there is also an ongoing contract dispute with the Mat-Su Certified Employees Association.  That union includes staff in numerous support positions throughout the school district.