Representatives from the Juneau School District (JSD) and Juneau Education Association (JEA) met on February 12, 2025, to begin negotiations on a new contract. The JEA bargaining unit is the district’s largest employee association, representing about 275 teachers and certified staff in the Juneau School District.

JEA is a local affiliate of National Education Association Alaska. The current agreement between JSD and JEA expired on June 30, 2025. However, teachers continue to work with a signed contract, and “dynamic status quo,” a specific term in labor relations, is in effect during negotiations on a successor agreement. All terms and conditions, rights and benefits negotiated by JEA under the previous contract remain in effect, identical to last year, but JEA members’ salaries have increased this year with an additional year experience or credit attainment, as applicable.

Both the District and JEA have negotiated exhaustively, both parties agreed they reached impasse, and both parties agreed to voluntary mediation. We have had 17 negotiations meetings and three mediation sessions (totaling over 94 hours) but have not overcome the impasse. The District team also proposed and offered additional meetings.

The District negotiations team, on behalf of the Board of Education, believes the time has come to schedule an advisory arbitration, as required by Alaska Statute 23.40.200(g).

Future mediation sessions have become difficult and uncertain to schedule because of the federal shutdown and funding uncertainty with the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service. It is time, therefore, to proceed as required by law with an advisory arbitration hearing conducted under AS 23.40.200(g).

Members of the school board are committed to a fair and respectful bargaining process. We value our teachers and the vital role they—and all staff—play in student success, and we remain committed to working through the formal negotiation process to reach a fiscally responsible and sustainable agreement.

It is, of course, always preferable to reach a voluntary agreement. The District team remains committed to keeping communication open and remains willing to continue meeting in the hopes a successor agreement will soon be reached.