The Akron Board of Education on Monday night unanimously approved a three-year contract between Akron Public Schools and the Akron Education Association, the local teachers’ union.
Teachers will receive a 3% raise this year, a 2% pay increase during the 2026/2027 school year and 3% again in 2027/2028.
These raises will be offset in part by increases in healthcare costs. Monthly healthcare premium increases will be dependent on member enrollment in the union’s wellness program, which requires either a biometric scan or a membership with Marathon Health, which describes itself as a workforce healthcare solution that partners with employers and unions to improve healthcare for their employees and members.
Participants in the wellness program will see smaller increases than non participants, but it’s unclear exactly how much the increased healthcare costs will be for union members and how they will be applied.
Medical deductibles for union members are also increasing, from $300 to $400 for in-network single coverage. In-network family rates are rising from $600 to $800. Out-of-network single deductible rates are rising from $600 to $800 and out-of-network family deductible rates are rising from $1,200 to $1,600.
The union contract is retroactive to July 1.
The AEA, which has more than 2,600 members across Akron schools, is one of the largest independent teachers’ unions in the nation. In Akron schools, the union members serve more than 19,000 students at more than 45 schools.
Last Thursday, the teachers’ union voted to ratify the contract.
“AEA remained steadfast in advocating for a contract that respects the professionalism of Akron educators and supports the needs of students and families across the district,” said AEA President Pat Shipe in a press release about the union’s ratification.
The contract agreement came months after the teachers’ union filed a bevy of grievances and lawsuits against Akron schools during former Superintendent Michael Robinson’s tenure.
The legal matters are expected to be discussed further.
Still, this round of contract negotiations, which began in March, were far less contentious than the previous. In January 2023, the AEA issued a 10-day strike notice; the district and union came to terms one day before that strike was set to begin.
Full contract details were unavailable following Monday’s board meeting.