Bedford, teachers reach new contract agreement

7/31/2012

TEMPERANCE -- Bedford Public Schools and its teachers' union have reached a tentative contract agreement, although no details will be released until after the pact has been ratified.

The Bedford Education Association is not expected to vote before Aug. 8, and the Board of Education could act when it meets Aug. 9.

The district's last contract with the union expired June 30, 2010. The agreement, if ratified, would cover about 240 teachers whose salaries start at $34,908 and climb to $70,263 for those with specialist degrees.

The district faces a $1.47 million deficit for 2012-13 and filed a deficit-elimination plan with the Michigan Department of Education. More than $900,000 in teachers' concessions are among the plan's cost-cutting measures.