HUDSON — The Hudson City School District on Tuesday approved a new three-year agreement with the Hudson Teachers Association on a contract that runs until June 30, 2026, and includes a 2.75% salary increase in its first year for each teacher employed by the district.
The new contract is retroactive to July 1, 2023, and the agreement between the district and its teachers was reached Tuesday. The Hudson City School District Board of Education announced its approval during its meeting later Tuesday evening. The contract makes Hudson teachers among the highest paid teachers in the region.
“The board of education is thrilled that we reached consensus with the Hudson Teachers Association and crafted this agreement,” Board President Willette Jones said. “Our dedicated faculty is incredibly valued, and the board knows our teachers work tirelessly every day to provide Hudson students with the academic, social and emotional support they deserve.”
The agreement calls for a series of annual raises for teachers who belong to the union.
Union teachers will receive a 2.75% raise in 2024, retroactive to July 1, 2023; a 2.5% raise in 2025; and a 2.25% increase in 2026.
The contract was officially ratified by Hudson Teachers Association members and was approved Tuesday by the board of education.
Hudson Teachers Association President Wayne Kinney said Wednesday he did not want to comment on the agreement at this time.
“This agreement deeply reflects the spirit of -HudsonTogetherWeCan and positions us to move forward collaboratively,” Jones said.
The school district methodically negotiated with the teachers union to deliver a fair agreement that’s financially responsible for taxpayers and maintains the school district’s comprehensive educational programming and services, the district said in a statement.
Board Vice President Mark DePace praised the teachers union and the administration for their diligence and patience in drafting an equitable contract.
“This contract represents the successful intersection of shared goals and demonstrates the esteem our board of education has for our educators,” DePace said. “We know how hard our teachers work. We know how dedicated they are and we know the skill, talent and expertise they bring to their classrooms every day.”
The board was committed to crafting an agreement that met the teachers union’s needs by listening to feedback from the teachers and discussing the union’s priorities, DePace said.
“The board believes this contract is a fair, equitable and financially responsible contract for our taxpayers; it’s always a vital consideration,” DePace said. “Through this contract, our teachers will more extensively collaborate with administrators to provide additional supervision throughout our buildings and make our schools a safer and more inviting environment. This contract will position us to move forward.