Teachers still have no new contract as talks go to a mediator

What happened

The teachers' union (MCTA) and the board have not agreed on a new contract. Talks reached impasse in early 2026 and a mediator is helping. The board says the biggest gap is retiree health care: teachers are the only staff whose family plan in retirement is fully paid by the district. The cost of that plan is $43,965 a year per retiree. A mediation session was set for August 6, 2026.

Why it matters to families

A long dispute can affect staff morale and the money available for classroom programs. Retiree health care for all staff cost $16.25 million of $43.5 million in health spending in 2025-26.

The evidence

The board's posted replies to public speakers (March 2026 to July 2026) describe the impasse, the mediator and the retiree health care gap. The September 30, 2026 retiree health presentation lists retiree costs. These are the board's statements; the union's position is not in the collected record, and no settlement is recorded.

The source