Charlottesville City Schools

Following the formation of a bargainin unit for school support professionals in March 2024, collective bargaining for non-licensed staff will begin in 2025.

At its March 27, 2025 meeting, the School Board unanimously voted to adopt our first collective bargaining agreement with the Charlottesville Education Association, representing our teachers and other certified staff. This historic milestone reflects months of collaborative work, rooted in mutual respect and a shared commitment to student success. At a time when many surrounding divisions are grappling with cuts, this contract includes an annual 1.5 percent “step” increase plus a 4% pay increase, or an overall increase of 5.5% for all teachers. Read on to find the full statement from School Board Chair Emily Dooley, Superintendent Dr. Royal Gurley, and CEA President Shannon Gillkin.

Charlottesville School Board Approves Historic Collective Bargaining Agreement

Dear Staff,

We are thrilled to announce that at the last Board meeting, the School Board unanimously voted to adopt our first collective bargaining agreement with the Charlottesville Education Association, representing our teachers and other certified staff. This historic milestone reflects months of collaborative work, rooted in mutual respect and a shared commitment to student success.

At a time when many surrounding divisions are grappling with cuts, this contract includes an annual 1.5 percent “step” increase plus a 4% pay increase, or an overall increase of 5.5% for all teachers. This investment will help Charlottesville remain competitive in recruiting and retaining the high-quality professionals who serve our students every day.

But compensation is only one part of the story. The agreement also strengthens the daily experience of educators in the classroom by guaranteeing planning time per week for all teachers and creating structures for shared governance through joint labor-management committees. These provisions ensure teachers have time to plan effectively and a voice in the decisions that shape their work and schools.

Charlottesville is one of the first school divisions in Virginia to reach such an agreement, showing how deeply we value educators and their essential role in shaping student success. We are proud of this accomplishment, grateful for the partnership of the Charlottesville Education Association, and optimistic about what this collaboration will mean for our schools, our staff, and—most importantly—our students.

Sincerely,

Emily Dooley, Board Chair
Shannon Gillikin, CEA President
Royal Gurley, Superintendent

At their March 2023 meeting, the School Board unanimously voted to approve the Collective Bargaining Resolution, making Charlottesville City Schools one of the first divisions in the state to approve this request. For more information, see the Board’s press release announcing support in February 2023.

Charlottesville City School Board Announces Support for Collective Bargaining (Press Release from February 1, 2023)
 

At its February meeting on Thursday, February 2, 2023, the Charlottesville City School Board will announce support for a collective bargaining resolution that would give teachers and other staff a voice in their pay, benefits, and working conditions. The Board will officially vote to adopt the resolution at its March meeting.

This vote will be the culmination of a collaborative process that began in April 2022, when the Charlottesville Education Association (CEA) presented signatures to the Board expressing interest in moving forward with collective bargaining. Since that time, the Board and the CEA have been working together to learn about collective bargaining and negotiate on the resolution.

“We are eager to continue the tradition that exists within Charlottesville City Schools to listen to staff concerns and to meet their needs,” noted Board member Emily Dooley, who was a Board representative working on the process. “Even so, this process guarantees that no matter which Board, no matter which Superintendent, our staff is guaranteed a role in shaping the conditions in which they work, which ultimately impacts our students.”

Under the proposed resolution, the Board and the staff may each select for negotiation up to two topics, for a total of up to 4 negotiating areas. The potential topics are outlined in the resolution, ranging from wages to evaluation procedures. 

The Board recognizes two collective bargaining units, or groups of employees, within the resolution to participate in contract negotiations. One is non-administrative employees whose school employment requires a license, such as teachers, school counselors or librarians. The other is school support professionals, which would represent all other employees except administrators.

“This is a historic moment,” stated Board Member Lisa Larson-Torres, who also worked on the negotiations. “Our staff are the backbone of our schools, and we want to amplify their voices, their needs, and their expertise. This resolution signals and affirms that we want to support and retain our outstanding staff.”

CCS is among the first Virginia school divisions to adopt a collective bargaining resolution since the state’s 43-year prohibition on collective bargaining for local government workers was lifted in 2020.

This agreement would have a term of up to three years. The agreement is subject to sufficient appropriation and funding by the Charlottesville City Council. If the Charlottesville City Council fails to appropriate sufficient funds to implement the agreement, either party may reopen negotiations.

From 1977-2021, collective bargaining for public employees was banned in Virginia. In 2020, the Governor signed a bill (see Virginia Code§ 40.1-57.2) to give localities the option to adopt a collective bargaining resolution, effective May 1, 2021.