AEA Bargaining Team Update
From President Corey Aist:
“Community involvement in this process is critical. The Anchorage Education Association has one primary objective as we negotiate our next contract with the Anchorage School District: the retention of our educators. The most crucial factor in student success is having exceptional educators in every classroom and learning space. By working together to retain our professional educators, AEA and ASD can achieve ASD’s mission of ‘educating all students for success in life.
To meet this objective, we must address both retention and workload as more than half of ASD’s certified employees—over 1,500 individuals—have resigned or retired over the past four years, primarily driven by the lure of more competitive salaries and benefits offered by urban districts in the Lower 48 or by opportunities outside the education field entirely.
By pulling back the curtains and having our sessions open, we will find creative solutions that work for everyone and focus on student success.”
April 3, 2025 Update
Dear Members,
Your AEA Bargaining Team continues to meet weekly with the District to negotiate a contract that improves educator working conditions and attracts and retains excellent educators. See prior updates and other related information HERE.
Conversations over the past few bargaining sessions resulted in agreements last week on four articles: 117 Initial Salary Placement of Vocational Experience, 125 Salary Payment, 407 Parent-Teacher Conferences, and 443 Personnel File. In addition, AEA signed two LOAs (Letters of Agreement) with ASD: one that establishes a committee (half of which will be filled by elementary educators) to address concerns with elementary conferences, especially with the increased requirements of the AK Reads Act, and the second commits the District to explore the steps necessary to shift to bimonthly pay for educators (such a change, if feasible, would be no sooner than the 2026-2027 school year). Both sides are also making incremental progress in other areas, including conversations about articles about compensation. The team plans to continue those discussions on Wednesday at 4:30.
The team also wants to thank the AEA members who are coming to observe and support; your presence matters, and the team looks forward to seeing you at the upcoming sessions:
Upcoming bargaining sessions include:
● Wednesday, April 9 @ 4:30 at the Ed Center
● Monday, April 14 @ 4:30 at the Ed Center
● Wednesday, April 23 @ 4:30 at the Ed Center 25.04.03 Bargaining Update
● Thursday, May 1 @ 4:30 at the Ed Center
Looking Ahead
The final scheduled bargaining session is set for May 1. After that, both sides plan to take a break from negotiations to allow members and your AEA team to focus on the demanding final weeks of the school year. At this point, there are no plans to bargain over the summer. However, given the slow progress on the state budget and the number of remaining articles still on the table, it’s doubtful a successor agreement will be ready for a ratification vote before the current contract expires on June 30.
The team is committed to advocating for the best possible agreement and will keep members informed at every step. If summer bargaining is necessary, we will communicate those plans.
If that happens, AEA and ASD will enter what’s known as “dynamic status quo” on July 1. This means that the terms of the current 2024–2025 contract will remain in effect until a new successor agreement is reached. During this period, wages, benefits, and working conditions outlined in the existing contract will continue, and ASD is legally required to maintain those conditions. While we’ll still be actively working toward a new agreement, "dynamic status quo" ensures continuity and stability for members while negotiations continue.
Your AEA Bargaining Team will continue working toward an agreement that strengthens our compensation and working conditions—one that members will be proud to support in a ratification vote.
In Solidarity,
Your AEA Bargaining Team
Lem Wheeles, Chairperson (Dimond High)
Christian Haich, Spokesperson (Polaris K12)
Creed Campbell (King Tech)
Sonja Kenning (Kincaid Elementary)
Michaela Kolerok (West High)
Amber King (Ravenwood Elementary)
Keri Lierman (Chugiak High)
Karen Grey-Levine (Rogers Park Elementary)
Brian Nelson (Retired)
Adam Reid (AKChoice)
Courtney Eyer (Uniserv Director)
Jessica Minguez (Uniserv Director)
