After months of debate and public pushback, the Richmond School Board approved changes to the district’s collective bargaining resolution. The board voted 5-4 Tuesday following more than 40 minutes of public comment opposing the revisions.

RPS officials in favor of the revised resolution said the changes were made to ensure a more efficient and fiscally responsible process. They also stressed that the agreement is meant to be a middle ground between all sides in the collective bargaining process.

“I think that we have reached a point where both sides have made some fair compromises that make sense for our district and that puts the needs of our students first,” 5th District Representative Stephanie Rizzi said.

Rizzi, 1st District Representative Matthew Percival, 2nd District Representative Katie Ricard, 8th District Representative Emmett Jafari and Board Chair Shavonda Fernandez of the 9th District voted to approve the changes. The board had delayed a decision in October after sustained public criticism when the proposal was introduced in late September. 

School employees, union members and residents opposed to the resolution were unconvinced by officials’ arguments, and the boardroom echoed with cries of “Shame!” as the crowd filed out after the vote. 

The minutes leading up to the vote were heated, as members of the Richmond Education Association, Teamsters Local 322, Richmond For All, Sunrise Richmond and other individuals criticized the changes and their potential impact on organizing efforts. 

“While we were able to talk and make some great progress, the resulting document still does not accurately reflect union voices,” REA President Andrea Bryant said, “especially considering that we never expected to get everything we asked for.” 

They also criticized how meetings between union leaders and RPS officials were handled after the board’s deferral. Board members who voted against the changes echoed concerns about the meetings and the limited time and lack of consensus for those involved. 

Not everyone was critical of the changes, as Teamsters Local 592 President James Smith voiced his support during public comments. 

After the vote, 3rd District Representative Ali Faruk introduced a motion to create a workgroup of union, School Board and administration representatives to develop changes to the collective bargaining agreement, but it was rescinded following a brief board discussion. 

A timeline for collective bargaining negotiations has not been determined, according to RPS Communications Director Alyssa Schwenk, but officials are “looking forward to beginning as quickly as possible.” 

Virginia’s incoming administration could also affect negotiations. Public speakers opposed to the changes repeatedly cited bills expanding collective bargaining rights that were vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, saying they expect Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger to approve them, thus providing a reason to delay or reject the changes. 

Cathleen Wahl, a River City Middle School teacher, speaks during the Richmond Public Schools board meeting at City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 11 to stand in solidarity with RPS workers and urge the board to vote against proposed changes to the collective bargaining resolution. (Julianne Tripp Hillian)