BREAKING: Kansas Department of Labor rules against SMSD’s three-year unilateral contract

The Kansas Department of Labor ruled Friday afternoon that the Shawnee Mission School District was committing a prohibited act with their three-year unilateral contract.

“It is therefore determined that Respondent is committing a prohibited practice under the PNA by attempting to unilaterally impose a contract covering terms and conditions of professional service for school years 2020-2021 and 2021-22,” the statement reads. “It is therefore ordered that Respondent cease and desist from imposing terms and conditions of professional service of its proposed unilateral contract on Petitioner…”

The contract, which passed with a 6-1 vote at a Jan. 30 Board of Education meeting, gave district teachers two weeks to decide whether to sign it, remain on their 2018-19 contract without movement or resign their jobs. That deadline passed at 4:30 on Friday.

The district issued an official communications statement shortly after the state’s ruling that suggests the deadline potentially be waived, and that the district would resume talks with the National Education Association-Shawnee Mission. The two parties had negotiated on the contract from early spring 2019 to the Jan. 30 board meeting.

“Today the Kansas Department of Labor ruled that years two and three of the unilateral three-year contract were a prohibited practice. While the district disagrees with the decision, we remain committed to working with NEA-SM to resolve the matter of future compensation, benefits, and working conditions,” the SMSD statement reads. “As such, the district has reached out to KNEA to discuss the decision and will work to identify next steps. The district continues to believe it is essential to reach agreement on a contract that is in the best interest of teachers and is fiscally responsible.”

Further talks between the SMSD and NEA-SM are unclear at this time. Story is developing.