The Douglas County Federation, which represents certified and classified staff, has been advocating for a return to bargaining for years. The district has not had a collective bargaining agreement with teachers since 2012, when the then-school board chose to let it expire. Another union, the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents bus drivers and some other staff, still has an active agreement with the district.

"Our members never voted to decertify their union. We are alive and well. We have worked in partnership with this district for a long time," said Fiona Boomer, executive director of the Douglas County Federation.

A year ago, the union celebrated the election of a progressive school board it had campaigned for. But Boomer said that board has failed to deliver on promises to give teachers a seat at the table.

"We want the board to hear us and hear us loud and clear. That teachers and staff want to be at the bargaining table," Boomer said.

Lucy Squire, president of the Douglas County Federation and a third-grade teacher in the district, said teachers want a say in district decisions.

"We are still just missing the avenue to have a voice," Squire said. "It's been a slow road, but I am very confident that we will get there. This board is very supportive, and they have been listening to us. It's just getting across that finish line that seems to be the holdup."

Douglas County teachers are the lowest paid in the metro area, and the recent failure of the district's mill levy override means teachers will not receive a 4% raise. Boomer warned that the district will struggle to attract and retain talented educators without a bargaining agreement.

"This district is struggling and will continue to struggle in terms of compensation and retaining talented educators," Boomer said. "They need to figure out something to keep us," Squire added.

Squire said a collective bargaining agreement is that something. While Douglas County has not had one with teachers since 2012, the federation says every other metro area district has one.

"They have the ability to negotiate for things that are important, and that will benefit them in doing their job to support students," Squire said.

The amended policy presented to the board Tuesday removes the district's explicit commitment to annual negotiations and Interest-Based Bargaining, while giving the board greater discretion over union recognition, exclusive bargaining rights, written contracts and negotiating procedures. Boomer said the changes undermine the existing agreement with the transit union as well.

"It essentially does not guarantee us a spot at the table. It does not guarantee the concept of a living contract," Boomer said. "It doesn't guarantee annual bargaining. It really is an undermining of what really is already a functioning policy."

During public comment, a few speakers opposed a collective bargaining agreement. One commenter said, "I have never had a problem putting framework in to support teachers' voice. My concern has always been about giving union leadership control over crucial decisions and the fiscal burden a CBA would bring."

Squire rejected that characterization. "It is not a power move. It is not control. It's just seeking partnership so that we have collaborative avenues to work together," she said.

The federation also points to the failure of the district's 5A mill levy override, along with the passage of statewide Proposition NN and Amendment 87, as creating new education funding decisions that teachers should help shape.

"We have no interest in bankrupting the district, but our folks who teach people in the classrooms know what resources are absolutely essential and should be included in these kinds of budget crisis decisions," Boomer said. "What we need is the board to unequivocally say they want to have us at the bargaining table."

Before convening an executive session, many board members seemed to agree with the union's concerns about some of the proposed policy changes. The board ended the meeting by convening an executive session to receive legal advice on collective bargaining. One board member said they would discuss next steps and potential changes to the draft.

The board could vote on the collective bargaining policy as soon as its Dec. 8 meeting.