As the new school year approaches, the Clark County School District (CCSD) in Las Vegas, Nevada, is working to finalize their teacher contract for 2021.

This contract will lay out the terms and conditions for teachers in the district, including salary, benefits, and other job-related provisions. Negotiations between the district and the teachers union, the Clark County Education Association (CCEA), have been ongoing since May, and both sides have made progress in several areas.

One of the most significant points of contention is teacher pay. The CCEA is pushing for a 3% increase in salaries for all teachers, while the district has offered a 2% increase with additional bonuses for teachers who meet certain performance metrics. The two sides have also discussed the possibility of increasing the starting salary for new teachers in an effort to attract more qualified candidates to the district.

Another key issue in the negotiations has been benefits for teachers, particularly healthcare. The district has proposed a new healthcare plan that would save the district money but could potentially raise costs for teachers. The CCEA has expressed concern about the impact this plan could have on teacher retention and recruitment.

Outside of pay and benefits, the contract negotiations have also addressed issues such as class size, workload, and teacher evaluations. The CCEA has advocated for smaller class sizes and a reduction in workload for teachers, while the district has proposed changes to the teacher evaluation process that would place more emphasis on student growth and achievement.

Both the district and the CCEA have expressed optimism about the progress made in negotiations thus far, but some challenges remain. In particular, the issue of healthcare benefits could be a sticking point as the two sides work to find common ground.

As the negotiations continue, teachers in the district are eager to see a fair and equitable contract that will allow them to focus on what matters most: educating their students. Stay tuned for updates on the CCSD teacher contract for 2021.