Statement from the Flint Board of Education and the Superintendent
We (The Flint Board of Education and The FCS Administration) hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. We are writing to express our unwavering support for the valuable work of our teachers in Flint Community Schools and our commitment to working collaboratively with our teacher’s union to resolve any matters.
We stand in agreement with the sentiment expressed by our dedicated teaching staff that “we deserve more'” and acknowledge their assertion that “teachers are underpaid”. The Flint Board of Education (FBOE) and the Administration wholeheartedly support this belief. Together, we are committed to working collaboratively with the United Teachers of Flint to address these concerns and educators receive the compensation and recognition they deserve.
At Flint Community Schools, we recognize the pivotal role that our teachers play in shaping the lives of our scholars and building a strong foundation for their future success. They are the driving force behind our district's educational excellence, and we are deeply grateful for their dedication, passion, and hard work.
We firmly believe in the power of collaboration and the importance of a positive working relationship between the district and our teacher’s union. It is through open dialogue, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to our scholars' well-being that we can create an environment conducive to learning and growth.
In the spirit of transparency and to demonstrate our commitment to our teachers, we have created a comprehensive timeline of compensation over the last 10 years. This timeline reflects our efforts to provide fair and competitive compensation opportunities for our teachers, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to the education of our scholars.
The 2022-2025 Master Agreement includes a step increase on August 1, 2023, and another step increase on August 1, 2024. As previously mentioned in the last statement, the Board has already agreed to two steps for UTF employees and offered a third step in the counter-proposal, which would translate into three (3) steps in one calendar year.
On January 17, 2024, the School District of the City of Flint Board of Education approved a counteroffer of one step to the United Teachers of Flint employees to finalize the tentative grievance settlement agreement with the United Teachers of Flint, MEA/NEA. The Board offered this counteroffer in good faith and hoped that UTF would accept the counteroffer after consultation with UTF employees. On the same day, MEA UniServ Director Bruce Jordan responded and rejected the Board’s counteroffer.
While UTF continues to compare the district’s teacher salary scale to other school districts, the Board would like to remind UTF that the district has a $14,420,492.00 projected structural deficit and must be fiscally responsible. In order to ensure that the district meets its financial obligations, the district continues to have discussions with the Michigan Department of Treasury and will comply with all state budgetary requirements.
The Board and administration remain open to amicably resolving this matter involving the tentative grievance settlement agreement with UTF as long as it stays within the district’s fiscal limitations.
As we move forward, we are eager to continue working hand in hand with the teacher’s union to address any outstanding issues and reach a mutually beneficial resolution. We value the input and expertise of our teachers and recognize the importance of their voice in shaping the policies and decisions that affect their profession.
The Flint Board of Education and administration remains committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for all our staff. Together, we can achieve great things and ensure that our scholars receive the high-quality education they deserve. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your continued support and collaboration as we strive to create a brighter future for our scholars and our community.
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The Flint Board of Education and the Flint Community Schools Superintendent Official Revised Statement Concerning UTF. The document referenced is available via our Mobile App and www.flintschools.org under the Flint Board of Education https://www.flintschools.org/page/fboe-and-administration-communications and the Superintendent’s tabs https://www.flintschools.org/o/fcs/page/fboe-and-administration-communications
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