Sheridan educators who went on strike April 1 could return to the classroom as soon as Monday after three weeks of picketing and a nearly eight-hour meeting Thursday in Gov. Jared Polis’ office.
Polis, who called the meeting in hopes of getting teachers in Sheridan School District back in front of their students, pressed leaders of the high-poverty district and the local union to work toward an agreement and restore a sense of normalcy for the kids.
The two sides, whose relationship has become increasingly strained, emerged from the bargaining table Thursday evening with an initial resolution that moves them closer toward establishing a teachers contract.
The terms of their tentative agreement cannot be disclosed until Sheridan Educators Association members have had a chance to review and ratify them through a vote, according to Kailee Stiles, a spokesperson for the Colorado Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union.
For now, the handshake between district and union officials inches educators closer to the end of the strike, the state’s longest-running teachers strike in at least 45 years. Sheridan teachers plan to continue picketing until a final deal is inked.
“We are proud to report to the Sheridan community that we have finally achieved an initial agreement between Sheridan educators and the Sheridan School District Board President and superintendent that meets our demands to reinstate our contract, a path to recognize classified staff, and an end to the retaliatory and restrictive policies that have caused instability in our schools,” a statement from Sheridan Educators Association read. “Once this policy is ratified by our membership, we are ready to get back into our classrooms and be with our students with the dignity all educators deserve.”
Thursday’s meeting at the Capitol continued an upswing of momentum from a late-night meeting between district and union representatives Wednesday, Superintendent Gionni Thompson told The Colorado Sun.
“We gained a lot of ground last night,” Thompson said Thursday, “and I think today they were able to really bring it home.”
Gionni Thompson, superintendent for Sheridan School District, works at his desk Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Sheridan. (Jeremy Sparig, Special to The Colorado Sun)Thompson said the all-day meeting with Polis’ team carried a “very positive” tone.
“They were amazing,” he said. “I gotta say, the team was very professional. I just want to extend my complete gratitude to them for extending their services to make this come to a possible agreement.”
Discord between district leadership and union members started about a year ago and escalated after the end of July, when the teachers contract expired. Educators have not had an active contract in place all school year. When they launched their strike, the Denver metro district of 924 students closed its five schools for three days, keeping some closed even longer, before reopening them with many substitute teachers in place.
The strife has intensified with each passing week: Parents and students have joined their educators on the picket line during parts of the school day. Multiple attempts to restart negotiations have only resulted in more friction between the district and union, which announced plans to begin the recall process for the district’s four board members. State Sen. Jeff Bridges, a Greenwood Village Democrat who represents Sheridan, stepped into the fray with his own solution — potentially consolidating Sheridan School District with another district, such as Denver Public Schools.
And, on Wednesday, the district notified employees they would no longer receive health insurance benefits starting in May. In between rounds of negotiations Thursday, Thompson told The Sun that was a “misunderstanding.” Thompson said the district wanted to notify employees who have not been getting paid while on strike that they could experience a lapse in health insurance benefits if they do not keep up with paying the employee share of their premiums, which often comes directly out of their paycheck.
Stiles acknowledged the misunderstanding in a statement Thursday evening, saying it was partially due to “unfortunate timing” of the district’s email.
The union was glad to learn the district “never intended to cause harm to educators in this way,” Stiles wrote in the statement.
The contention finally began to dissipate Thursday as Polis and his team shepherded both sides toward a resolution.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
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