Bloomington teachers' contract will mean longer day and changed schedule

Teachers in Bloomington have ratified a new two-year contract that includes a raise and a slightly longer work day.

The deal also trims five days off next school year in exchange for extending the workday by 12 minutes.

Elementary teachers will use the time for professional learning development. Middle and high school teachers will add instructional time.

A longer school day will mean a later start and dismissal for elementary school students, and a later release time for middle and high school students.

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The agreement, approved by both teachers and the school board, also includes a two percent raise retroactive to the beginning of this school year, and another two percent raise next year.

It also includes a one-time $500 payment for 110 teachers with the most seniority. The district has 800 licensed teaching staff.

According to the state teachers union Education Minnesota, 11 percent of the state's districts have yet to settle on new two-year contracts.

Among the 89 percent of districts that have settled, the average raise is two percent in each of the two years.

Negotiators on both sides agreed to share increases in teachers' insurance premium costs.