Little Rock School District teachers, support staff to see raises

LITTLE ROCK, AR - District and union leaders emerged from the Wednesday afternoon meeting with smiles, thankful that the months-long process is over.

"It's our agreement and we're glad we were able to come to that agreement," Union Negotiator Peggy Nabors said.

It will mean a boost in pay for the district's 3800 employees. Neither side will disclose how much that will equal to in pay, because union members and school board members have to ratify it.

"Teachers need to know they're appreciated and that they're important,” LRSD Negotiator Dan Whitehorn said. “They are professionals and they're doing important jobs."

The union and the district declared an impasse last month which prompted them to call on mediators to sort it all out. But the employees made some noise. They picketed outside district headquarters in late April to push district leaders to boost their pay.

"I think it served two purposes,” Nabors said. “It may have helped, but it certainly allowed them to have a voice.”

"We didn't want to be apart on salaries and that sort of thing because that would throw a wrench into the big picture, which is important to student achievement," Whitehorn said.