Kalamazoo Schools and Teachers Union Begin Mediation

The district and its educators have entered contract mediation after beginning the school year without an agreement.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Unions

Isometric editorial illustration of a brass school bell sitting on a brick floor, symbolizing the school district labor negotiations. — Kalamazoo Public Schools and the Kalamazoo Education Association have entered contract mediation to resolve ongoing disagreements regarding teacher salaries and class sizes. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Kalamazoo Public Schools and the Kalamazoo Education Association have entered mediation to resolve a long-standing contract dispute. This marks the third consecutive year the academic year has begun without a finalized agreement between the district and its teachers.

Why it matters

The negotiations are focused on resolving critical disagreements regarding teacher salaries and classroom size constraints. While the union has organized protests to pressure the administration, parents have also attended school board meetings to advocate for a swift settlement.

Current payroll data indicates that 42% of district teachers earn over $90,000 annually, while 18% earn over $80,000, against an average full-year salary of over $62,000 in Kalamazoo.

The players

Kalamazoo Public Schools

The local school district serving students and managing employment contracts in the city.

Kalamazoo Education Association

The labor union representing district teachers in ongoing contract negotiations.

The details

Negotiations are currently underway to address the union's primary concerns regarding compensation and class size ratios. Although tensions remain high, teachers are prohibited from striking under Michigan law as the two sides work with a mediator.

Mediation between the union and the district officially begins the week of October 26, 2026.

Political Context

The mediation process is strictly governed by Michigan law, which forbids teacher strikes as a form of labor protest. This legal framework forces both parties to rely on formal dispute resolution rather than work stoppages to reach a contract settlement.

For residents and families, the ongoing lack of a contract maintains uncertainty regarding school stability and potential service disruptions. Local taxpayers and parents remain focused on how these negotiations might impact future school board budgeting and classroom resources.

The takeaway

The ongoing contract impasse highlights the complex balance between maintaining fiscal responsibility and meeting teacher compensation demands in the district. Residents should continue monitoring school board updates as the state-mandated mediation process proceeds.