Headlines & Features

Costing and Common Assumptions for Negotiations

As outlined in our Guiding Values for Negotiations, Fiscal Stewardship is one of our core beliefs. We define this as working within our budget to responsibly meet our financial and educational obligations. To that point, the Saint Paul Public Schools Board of Education established budget parameters for this negotiation cycle at 1.5% for the first year and 2.0% for the second year.

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SPFE Negotiations Update

Aug. 22, 2019
A fourth public negotiations session was canceled by SPFE. Saint Paul Public Schools has presented two proposals.

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Guiding Values for Negotiations 2019-20

August 20, 2019
Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) began negotiations with the Saint Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) for a new, two-year contract on Thursday, May 30.

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Saint Paul Public Schools Rejects Union Proposal for Unbudgeted Health Care Contributions

Aug. 16, 2019
Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) rejected a proposal by the Saint Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) and Minnesota Teamsters 320 that would have cost the district $3.6 million in new healthcare contributions in exchange for the unions suspending their push to break a health insurance contract with HealthPartners.

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Board Approves SPFT Contracts

March 20, 2018
The Board of Education approved and adopted the SPFT contract agreements.

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SPPS, SPFT and Mayor of Saint Paul Hold News Conference About Contract Negotiations

Feb. 12, 2018
SPPS and SPFT held a news conference on Monday to address the outcomes of the contract negotiations.

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SPPS and SPFT Teachers, Educational Assistants and School and Community Service Professionals Reach Tentative Agreements on New Contracts

Feb. 12, 2018
I am happy to tell you that Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) and the Saint Paul Federation of Teachers Union (SPFT) have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. Thankfully, this means a strike will not take place. School will continue as usual this week.

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SPFT Teachers, Educational Assistants and School and Community Service Professionals Mediation Update: Day 10

Feb. 10, 2018
In an effort to keep school in session, Superintendent Joe Gothard joined mediation and stayed through the end of the night. SPPS has committed to continuing mediation through through Sunday and beyond, if needed.

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SPFT Teachers, Educational Assistants and School and Community Service Professionals Mediation Update: Day 9

Feb. 9, 2018
Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) entered its ninth mediation session with the Saint Paul Federation of Teachers (SPFT) with a set of top priorities for discussion: class size, special education, restorative practices and English learners.

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Important Information about Preparations in Case of Strike

Feb. 9, 2018
As promised, I am writing you today with additional information about preparations in case the Saint Paul Federation of Teachers (SPFT) and its bargaining groups go on strike on Tuesday, Feb. 13. As I wrote yesterday, if the strike takes place, all PreK-12 schools and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) classes and services will be closed both Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 13 and 14.

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SPFT Teachers, Educational Assistants and School and Community Service Professionals Mediation Update: Day 8

Feb. 8, 2018
SPPS held a news conference on the negotiations and shared plans for continued care and services for Saint Paul kids in the event of a strike.

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Important Information About Possible Strike

Feb. 8, 2018
Please read this very important information about a possible teacher strike that would impact your family and every family in the District.

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Supt. Gothard: There’s still time to avoid a strike (Pioneer Press)

Feb. 8, 2018
Supt. Joe Gothard writes in an opinion piece in the Pioneer Press "We hope SPFT will join us in identifying its top priorities – the things we can accomplish right now – and agree to compromise on other issues."

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SPPS Holds News Conference About Possible Strike

Feb. 8, 2018
Supt. Joe Gothard and members of the leadership team spoke to the media on Thursday, Feb. 8.

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SPFT Teachers, Educational Assistants and School and Community Service Professionals Mediation Update: Day 7

Feb. 7, 2018
SPPS entered its seventh mediation session with SPFT with a top priority of making progress on class size proposals. Despite the progress described in this update and the District’s ongoing good-faith negotiation, tonight SPFT announced its intention to strike beginning Tuesday, Feb. 13, if the parties do not reach a settlement in the next five days.

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How School District Funding Works

Feb. 7, 2018
School finance and budgeting is a complex process and should foster healthy conversation. Here are the facts about SPPS’s fund balance.

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SPFT Teachers, Educational Assistants and School and Community Service Professionals Mediation Update: Day 6

Feb. 6, 2018
Melvin Carter, Saint Paul’s mayor, met with negotiations teams for the District and the Union this morning. He offered words of encouragement and confidence that both teams will reach an agreement in the days ahead.

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SPFT Teachers, Educational Assistants and School and Community Service Professionals Mediation Update: Day 5

Feb. 5, 2018
Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) Superintendent Joe Gothard and SPPS Board Chair Zuki Ellis along with Vice Chair Steve Marchese met with both the District’s and Saint Paul Federation of Teachers (SPFT) negotiations teams during the fifth mediation session today.

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SPFT Teachers, Educational Assistants and School and Community Service Professionals Mediation Update: Day 4

Feb. 2, 2018
The District and the Union exchanged multiple proposals and counter proposals.

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SPPS Prepares Families and Staff for Potential Strike

Feb. 1, 2018
We realize talk of a strike – when staff leave their jobs in protest for a new labor contract – provides uncertainty for our families and students. In the interest of transparency, we wish to provide you as much information as possible throughout this process.

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Negotiations