Phoenix-Talent School District offices on Rose Street in Phoenix.

Educators from the Medford and Phoenix-Talent school districts are working without teacher contracts while school administrators and union representatives strive to find a compromise.

The Medford Education Association — a teachers’ union representing 700-plus educators and school staff — last met with Medford School District administrators Oct. 18. As part of a tentative agreement, both parties signed off on contract articles that included professional development plans, recognition clauses and union rights and responsibilities.

Union leaders with the Phoenix-Talent Education Association last met with Phoenix-Talent School District administrators Oct. 13. The Phoenix-Talent Education Association represents approximately 145 union members, including classroom teachers, specialists, counselors and others within the district.

During the Oct. 13 meeting, PTEA and Phoenix-Talent School District officials submitted multiple proposals and counter-proposals during the full-day bargaining session. They discussed key aspects of the planned new contract such as increased preparation time for teachers, class size caps and cost-of-living increases.

The Phoenix-Talent School District’s next bargaining session with the union is scheduled for Oct. 25.

“If we’re able to make progress on the 25th like we did on the 13th, then yes it’s achievable,” said Sandra Tringolo, union bargaining chair for PTEA, regarding the potential for having a new contract signed before 2024 or sooner.

Union representatives and administrators with the Phoenix-Talent School District continued to exchange proposals and counter-proposals throughout the week, aiming to make progress before the Oct. 25 meeting, Tringolo said.

The key focus for the union bargaining with the Phoenix-Talent School District centers on preparation time.

“A big part of that depends on the issue of prep time, that seems to be where we are furthest apart,” Tringolo said of negotiations. “We have agreement almost fully on financials, cost-of-living adjustments and insurance caps.”

For the Medford Education Association bargaining session slated for Nov. 1, the primary topics of discussion with the Medford School District include working conditions, basic compensation and insurance benefits.

“Compensation is not on the top of the list as high as teachers’ working conditions, which equates to students’ working conditions,” said Jessica Fitzsimmons, president of MEA. Ensuring adequate working conditions is “more important to our members than compensation — we feel like those things directly affect students.”

Due to complexities involved with the working conditions section of the new contract, the Medford School District and MEA are set to form subcommittees to work through the Article 12 section of the proposal related to teacher preparation time and grading time, among other responsibilities.

“Article 12 is huge, and it’s really one of the most important things to our members,” Fitzsimmons said.

While MEA representatives would like to have a new contract by 2024, their primary goal is establishing a new contract that benefits students and teachers alike.

“We are going to get there when we get there and negotiate the best contract we can for our teachers and our students,” Fitzsimmons said.

For Medford School District updates on the teacher contract, go to www.medford.k12.or.us/Page/7014.

For updates from the Phoenix-Talent School District on contract negotiations, visit www.phoenix.k12.or.us/Page/2310 and click on the summary documents listed under “Licensed Resources.”