Henrico School Board to discuss collective bargaining at Sept. 26 meeting

At a work session Thursday, Sept. 26 at 2:30 p.m., Henrico School Board members will look over information collected by Henrico Schools Superintendent Amy Cashwell about how collective bargaining would work in the division, along with feedback about the idea from HCPS employees and other stakeholders.

Back in May, the board requested that Cashwell conduct research about how collective bargaining works in other Virginia school divisions, gather input from HCPS staff, and look into how collective bargaining would impact the division’s structural relationship with the county government, including the Unified Pay Plan that places school and government employees on the same pay step process.

Along with that request, school board chair and Varina representative Alicia Atkins also delivered the board’s first response to calls for collective bargaining, saying that board members “remain committed to furthering our understanding on this matter” and that feedback “has been duly noted and continues to be reviewed.”

Since November, hundreds of HCPS staff and supporters have submitted online or in-person comments to the school board advocating for the adoption of collective bargaining for school employees. This March, the Henrico Education Association, the self-described labor union representing HCPS educators, said it has collected more than 1,000 signatures from staff in support of the HEA being its negotiating body.

The school board has not indicated whether or not it would consider putting forth a resolution that would implement collective bargaining in the division. In the past few years, several Virginia school divisions (including Richmond Public Schools) have approved collective bargaining, while other divisions have shot down proposals.

At a monthly meeting later on Thursday, the school board also will vote on the membership slate of HCPS’ Special Education Advisory Committee for 2024-2027. The committee, which includes parents, teachers, and principals, works with the superintendent to set priorities for special education in the division and help improve the academic performance of students with disabilities.

During the 2024-2025 school year, the committee plans to establish a special education Parent-Teacher-Association liaison in each school, boost retention efforts of new special education teachers, and support school and family collaboration.

Members of the public also have the opportunity to comment online (by Wednesday, Sept. 25 at noon) or in-person at the monthly meeting’s public forum.

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Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s Report for America Corps member and education reporter. Her position is dependent upon reader support; make a tax-deductible contribution to the Citizen through RFA here.