Douglas County Federation teachers and staff seek restoration of collective bargaining

Lone Tree, CO – On November 10, teachers, staff, parents and community supporters came together to offer public comment at a Douglas County School District (DCSD) School Board meeting. Public comment was focused on the restoration of collective bargaining between the Douglas County Federation (DCF) and the Board of Education, which broke down in 2012 when the Board ended negotiations with the union.

DCF, a member of the American Federation of Teachers, holds that the Board never revoked its recognition of the union, but, rather, left the bargaining table in 2012.

DCF formally asked the Board to return to bargaining in April of 2026, and teachers and staff continued speaking on the topic throughout the next 6 months. In October, the Board contracted with a union busting attorney.

In the school district, union and labor negotiations are under the framework of Policy H, which gives the DCF a seat at the bargaining table. The School Board is now seeking to amend Policy H to weaken the DCF. The proposed changes to Policy H would also raise concerns about bargaining with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), which has bus drivers and mechanics under contract with the school district. As the DCF puts it, “rather than honoring the commitments established in its own policy, the Board appears to be rewriting those commitments to avoid fulfilling them.”

The steps to restore collective bargaining for the DCF come in the wake of the defeat of Ballot Issue 5A, a mill levy override that would have brought $54 million in additional annual funding to schools in the district. According to public comment speakers, the funding could have provided much needed raises for teachers in Douglas County.

Robert Gould, a 29-year special education teacher, spoke on the topic of pay at public comment, saying “Douglas County was once one of the most competitive districts in the Front Range. The collaboration between the union and the administration was an exemplar throughout the nation.” Gould says things changed in 2012, though, and “Now Douglas County has the lowest starting salary in the entire metro area, and the average teacher salary is 25% more in other districts.”

Other speakers noted the defeat of 5A as a turning point that indicated the union should have participation in economic choices the district makes.

Christine Graham-Herring, a 23-year educator, spoke, saying, “right now our district stands at a critical financial and operational crossroads.” Graham-Herring spoke in favor of restoring collective bargaining, calling employees’ involvement in future spending decisions “essential,” and reiterating a phrase other speakers used throughout the night, saying “teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions.”

Meg Farlow, a DCSD parent also speaking at public comment, said “Collective bargaining doesn’t create money, but it gives employees a seat at the table and a voice in how limited resources are prioritized. The failure of 5A should not mean the needs of our employees are put on hold.”

The DCF urges supporters to stay involved in order to bring the School Board back to the table to bargain in good faith. Policy H is to be voted on at the earliest on December 8.

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