Holmes County teachers and district remain at impasse over wage negotiations

To address teacher salaries, insurance, and working conditions, the Holmes County Teachers Association (HCTA) and the Holmes County School District convened their fourth negotiation session on Monday December 16. However, discussions yielded no significant progress.

During the negotiation, the HCTA maintained its proposal, advocating for what it describes as a fair and reasonable wage increase for Holmes County educators. According to the association, the district did not present any revisions to its previous offer. A key point of discussion centred on the district’s budget allocation for salaries, with the HCTA questioning why available funds have not been directed toward increasing teacher pay.

Over the past two years, the district has reportedly saved close to $1 million in salary-related expenses. In the negotiation, the HCTA proposal requested $77,000 to meet its outlined terms. Additionally, the district received $158,117 in state funds earmarked for instructional salary increases, though the HCTA noted this amount is insufficient to address the issue fully.

The HCTA has requested a follow-up meeting after the school board revisits its budget during the upcoming board meeting on January 14 at 10 a.m. The HCTA asserts that improved teacher salaries represent not just a financial cost but an investment in the county’s educational outcomes. The association is advocating for a new base salary of $44,268, emphasizing that teacher working conditions directly impact student learning environments.

Both parties have yet to reach a resolution, and negotiations are expected to continue as the January meeting approaches.

The Advertiser reached out to Holmes County Superintendent Buddy Brown for a statement but he declined to comment at this time.