After more than 15 hours at the bargaining table on July 31, Jefferson County Public Schools reached a compensation and benefits deal with two of its employee unions. But for many educators and support professionals, the agreement felt less like progress and more like a letdown.

“It’s super disappointing,” said Brooke Williams, president of the Jefferson County Education Association. “We got a 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment. That’s what they were offering in March.”

Despite repeated requests, JCEA says the district refused to consider even a modest stipend to offset rising healthcare costs. For educators already struggling with affordability and burnout, the refusal to move was more than a budget issue; it felt personal.

Williams said educators felt “dismissed” and “disheartened.”

“It’

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