NEA-Las Cruces Announces Preliminary Contract Agreement with Las Cruces Public Schools for Higher Pay

After months of negotiations, NEA-Las Cruces announced a preliminary contractual agreement with the Las Cruces Public Schools on Thursday.

The Las Cruces section of the National Education Association announced in a press release that it has entered into a preliminary contractual agreement with the Las Cruces public schools. All certified employees receive a salary increase of 3.5% after ratification. A planning grant of US $ 1,800 has also been agreed, which will be split between the fall and spring semesters.

In a written statement, NEA-Las Cruces President Denise Sheehan said the agreement lasted nine months and commended the educators for their continued dedication in the classroom not just during the negotiation process but throughout the pandemic. In a recent interview with the KRWG, Sheehan spoke about the burden on educators.

“Our educators have to take on other jobs and that takes away their planning time, their preparation, their family time, which is most important,” Sheehan said. “You know, our educators should be focused on just that, teaching our students, and that’s very difficult when you have to focus on the other things outside of your job.”

Centennial High School English teacher Gail Wheeler is an educator who spoke about the financial stress faced by many LCPS employees. In total, Wheeler has spent roughly two decades serving as an educator for LCPS, witnessing the continued sacrifices of district workers and some of them herself.

“I’m ready to be one of the last to get a raise, but that doesn’t mean I still won’t go out and spend my money,” Wheeler said. “If I want colored paper, I have to buy the colored paper that I want. I have to go to buy the art supplies I really want. And if I made more money, that money would go back to my classroom. This is the case with almost all teachers. Even those who have a part-time job still buy groceries that they have in their classroom in case a child is hungry. “

Sheehan says educators in the district currently make around $ 54,000 a year. According to NEA-Las Cruces, the average salary rate for educators in the district rose nearly 10.5% between 2017 and 2021. It’s lower than the nationwide average for the same period, which has increased at a rate of around 16%.

During the negotiation process, the district was further scrutinized – the district ended fiscal 2021 with a $ 3 million surplus. While the district is focused on promoting sustainable growth, LCPS deputy superintendent Gabe Jacquez, the district’s chief negation officer, says that LCPS listened to staff concerns during the negotiations.

“We’re definitely listening,” said Jacquez. “We don’t always agree, and that’s part of negotiating. But I guess we all agree on one thing and I won’t and can’t speak for them, but it’s about preparing our future generations of students and whatever we need to do to get to that point, we want everyone Case to do that. Unfortunately, as in any other place, we have the resources we have, and the point is to use these resources and use them responsibly. “

A light for district and union leaders alike – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced her intention to seek a 7% pay increase for all New Mexico education staff.

This is good news for LCPS given concerns about faculty shortages. Sheehan says she has seen an increase in the number of district employees who quit or retire in the middle of the school year. It’s a problem, she says, is made worse by low wages.

“You usually see a high number at the end of a semester when people are eligible,” Sheehan said. “We are definitely in a crisis. We are not able to fill vacancies at all levels. “

Sheehan stressed that regardless of the current shortage in the classroom, the LCPS educators continue to give their all and that reasonable compensation is required to reward all of the district’s employees for their work.

“It is just important that the community knows that our teachers are doing their best and that we must definitely compensate for the work they are doing – a tremendous amount of work,” Sheehan said.

More information on the tentative agreement is expected to be announced during the LCPS Education Committee meeting on Tuesday.