Thank you for reaching out and for raising your voice in support of collective bargaining rights for Colorado Springs teachers. I am one of the seven members of the Board of Education, and I voted in favor of renewing the teachers’ collective bargaining agreement this past December. Unfortunately, the board voted not to renew the contract — a contract that had been in place for 50 years and historically renewed every few years.

The contract formally expired on June 30, 2024, and we are now in the first few months of operating under a district-wide employee handbook that applies to all staff. Going forward, it would take four votes from the seven-member board to reopen negotiations — and at this time, the majority does not support doing so.

I am term-limited and will be leaving the board on December 3. I remain convinced of the value of collective bargaining, both for teachers and for our community. Unfortunately, I don’t see a short-term solution here under the current board composition.

Your voices do matter. I encourage supporters of collective bargaining to attend board meetings and speak about why teacher rights and fair representation are critical for quality education. But the most effective long-term path forward is through the ballot box. Three board seats are up for election this year — those currently held by members who are not seeking re-election — and the remaining four members who opposed renewal are not up for election this cycle.

I encourage you to get out the vote for candidates who support teachers’ rights to organize and collectively bargain, not just this year but also in the next election cycle. Sustained civic engagement will be key to bringing about change.

Respectfully,
Julie Ott
Director, Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education