Arlington School Board Certifies Collective Bargaining Agreement Benefiting APS Administrators

ARLINGTON, VA (December 18, 2025) — The Arlington School Board today certified a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between Arlington Public Schools (APS) and the Arlington School Administrators (ASA).

The first school division in Virginia to certify an administrative CBA in August 2023, APS now shares that distinction in the state with Richmond Public Schools and Montgomery County Public Schools (VA). The APS–ASA successor agreement signed today is the most comprehensive administrative collective bargaining agreement in the Commonwealth, covering a wide range of topics—from compensation and leave to grievances, investigations, professional development, and other benefit opportunities for administrative staff.

“This successor agreement reflects our commitment to supporting our administrative staff. Through this collaborative effort, APS is continuing to raise the bar for excellence and equity in education,” said Superintendent Dr. Francisco Durán. “A comprehensive bargaining agreement is about more than contracts—it helps create stability, trust, and shared responsibility, strengthening staff, improving district effectiveness, and better serving students.”

The certified agreement between APS and ASA is effective for three years.

“Reaching this agreement took over two years of sustained focus and work from everyone involved. Successful negotiations require careful listening, constructive dialogue, and a sustained willingness to find common ground,” said Pam Farrell, ASA President. “We appreciate the collaborative effort that was shown this year by APS, which made the outcome possible for Arlington Administrators. The efforts undertaken this year have established a base for continued cooperation and future agreements, constructive engagement remains key to advancing shared goals.”

Important Agreement highlights include:

• Adjustments to salary schedules and a full three-year agreement on Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA);
• Logistical provisions to support expansion of APS’s Extended Day Program;
• Greater flexibility for members to use allotted leave by allowing it to be taken in one-hour increments and by codifying scheduling guidelines for summer professional development;
• Formation of a Labor-Management Committee to discuss hiring practices and other outstanding issues.

Additionally, annual step increases, bereavement leave, conversion of excess annual leave, and the cap on bonus leave days remain intact from the initial CBA.

“The School Board is proud to approve the successor Administrative Agreement,” said Bethany Zecher Sutton, School Board Chair. “This robust agreement significantly expands the numbers of topics covered and will benefit our valued APS administrative employees.”

Bargaining Teams 

• APS Bargaining Team Members: Stephanie Maltz, Director of Labor Relations; Matt Thompson, Labor Relations Specialist; Chrissy Smith, Division Counsel; Andy Hawkins, Business Officer; Gerald Mann, Chief Academic Officer; Kim Graves, Chief of School Support; Corey Dotson, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Renee Harber, Assistant Superintendent of Facilities and Operations.
• ASA Bargaining Team Members: ASA: Pam Farrell, ASA President and Supervisor of Arts Education; Jeanette Allen, Principal of Arlington Community High School;  Michelle McCarthy, Principal of Jamestown Elementary School; Bryan Boykin, Principal of Willamsburg Middle School, and Mark Murphy, Chief Negotiator for ASA.

About Collective Bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process by which an employer (such as APS), negotiates with a group of employees (a bargaining unit) over terms and conditions of employment. The bargaining unit is represented in negotiations by a bargaining agent (such as a union or association).

In May 2022, the Arlington School Board adopted a Collective Bargaining Resolution (CBR) creating three bargaining units at APS. Each bargaining unit has elected an exclusive bargaining agent.