Richmond Public Schools’ historic collective bargaining agreement will remain unchanged for now after the Richmond School Board voted 6-3 Tuesday to defer a decision on proposed changes.

The board will consider proposed changes to the resolution next month and will hold discussions with RPS union representatives in the coming weeks on any adjustments. 

“I think that we can go back and look again,” said board Chair Shavonda Fernandez, who requested the deferral and joined board members Katie Ricard, Emmett Jafari, Matthew Percival, Stephanie Rizzi and Shonda Harris-Muhammed in approving it. 

The proposed resolution, introduced by RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras’ administration, has been presented as ways to improve the bargaining process in response to staff feedback and a limited budget. The changes would include barring organizing activities during times that disrupt RPS operations, limits on negotiation topics for both parties, and approving agreements only when RPS has enough funding. 

The board’s decision came after days of pushback from Richmond education unions and their allies, including a large rally outside City Hall before the board’s work session Monday. 

“Last night was a victory for the diligent workers of Richmond Public Schools,” Teamsters Local 322 President Brian Peyton said in a statement Wednesday. “Now, we must move forward together to ensure any changes to the collective bargaining policy serve all students, parents and workers.” 

Del. Michael Jones and Richmond City Council member Kenya Gibson spoke in support of the unions during Monday’s rally, while 25 people at Tuesday’s meeting urged the board to reject the resolution. 

Union members and supporters criticized the changes for potentially limiting employee free speech and bargaining, creating pay cut mechanisms, and eliminating due process. They also questioned the short time between the proposal’s introduction and Tuesday’s planned vote, saying they had little opportunity to review the changes or suggest revisions. 

“We need an opportunity to come together, truly together and make changes to the 

resolution that yield to the true definition of compromise,” said Richmond Education Association President Andrea Bryant. 

Some board members, while in favor of a more efficient process and parts of the proposal, also questioned the short timeline during their discussion of the resolution Tuesday. Similar questions continued to be raised by members after the deferral was requested. 

Board members also expressed concern over the impact of the discussion so far, from the rhetoric used by some critics of the changes to the relationship between RPS leaders and employees moving forward. 

“I worry that this process has eroded trust between our management and our staff,” said 3rd District board member Ali Faruk. “If you want more efficiency and effectiveness, you really do have to build trust, because I think in the long run the eroded trust will cost us more.” 

Faruk and board members Jafari, Harris-Muhammed, Wesley Hedgepeth and Cheryl Burke had voiced their intention to vote against the changes before Fernandez requested the deferral. 

The board is set to reconvene for a work session Monday, Nov. 10, and a meeting Tuesday, Nov. 11. 

Dozens of educators, local lawmakers and community members rally to urge the Richmond School Board to reject a collective bargaining proposal.  Photo by Julianne Tripp Hillian/ Richmond Free Press.