The Ithaca City School District (ICSD) and the Ithaca Teachers Association (ITA) have finalized a new collective bargaining agreement that strengthens compensation, benefits, and professional support for educators while marking a significant milestone for the Ithaca community and its public schools.
The agreement was approved by 86% of voting ITA members, with 415 votes in favor and 65 opposed. The ITA represents 580 members, reflecting a high level of participation in the ratification process. (By comparison, 246 ITA members voted in the 2019 contract ratification.) The ICSD Board of Education voted to ratify and approve the agreement during its meeting on the evening of January 27.
“The most recent collective bargaining process and resulting agreement represent a meaningful advancement in both teacher compensation and working conditions,” Superintendent Luvelle Brown said. “I am extremely proud of the collaborative effort that led to these outcomes.”
The three-year agreement, which covers the period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, takes effect immediately and will be made publicly available. It reflects shared priorities around recruitment and retention, competitive compensation, family-supportive benefits, and expanded learning opportunities for students.
“We’re incredibly appreciative of all our members for participating in the most open, democratic bargaining process that the ITA has ever undertaken,” ITA President Kathryn Cernera said. “The overwhelming support from our community strengthened our resolve to fight for our teachers' working conditions and our students' learning conditions. We know that together we have reached an incredibly strong agreement that will positively impact all of us for decades to come.”
Agreement Highlights
Three-Year Contract
7% average annual salary increases for 2025–26 and 2026–27
6% average annual increase for 2027–28
A step and lane schedule ensuring no teacher receives less than a 5% total annual increase
Increase in parental and FMLA leave to 12 paid weeks
Maintenance of current health care options in retirement
Maintain all previously negotiated tentative agreements addressing topics related to teacher working conditions
Compensation Philosophy
Updated year-to-year compensation structure (step and lane model)
The budget process demonstrates how increases are funded through long-range planning while staying within the tax cap
Contract and Regional Alignment
Incorporates leading contract elements from neighboring districts and leading state and national teachers’ unions
Designed to ensure schedule changes remain consistent with those in nearby districts
Teacher Hours and Student Learning Time
Expansion of the teacher work day to allow for more time for adult collaboration, lesson planning, and other professional responsibilities
The district maintains the discretion to extend the instructional day by up to 30 minutes at the elementary level and 15 minutes at the secondary level, beginning in the 2026-27 school year
As part of their ongoing commitment to transparency and community engagement, the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) and the Ithaca Teachers Association (ITA) conducted public contract negotiations starting in February 2025. Throughout the negotiations, both parties worked diligently to reach an agreement that reflects the needs of educators, students, and the broader community.
On October 30, 2025, the ICSD and ITA reached a tentative agreement, which was subsequently approved by 86 percent of voting ITA members and ratified by the ICSD Board of Education on January 27, 2026.
The ICSD and ITA encourage all interested community members to stay informed by reviewing the available recordings and documents below.
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