Colorado Springs School District 11 (D11) educators will stage a one-day strike on Wednesday, October 8, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between the district’s Board of Education and the Colorado Springs Education Association (CSEA). The dispute centers on the board’s December decision to terminate a 56-year-old master agreement with its teachers—a move critics say undermines labor rights and threatens the integrity of public education.

The strike, authorized by 91% of union members, will begin with picketing at schools across the district at 7:30 a.m., followed by a rally at Acacia Park at 2:30 p.m.. Teachers say the action is a last resort after months of failed negotiations and what they describe as a refusal by the board to engage in good-faith collective bargaining.

Timeline of Key Events

Date	Event	Details
1968	Master Agreement established	D11 and CSEA enter into a collective bargaining agreement covering teacher rights, pay, and working conditions.
Nov 2023	Conservative slate wins board majority	Backed by groups like Springs Opportunity Fund, candidates Thomas Carey and Jill Haffley join the board, shifting its ideological balance.
March 2024	Board allocates $118K for legal counsel	Hires conservative attorney Suzanne Taheri and West Group to represent D11 in bargaining talks.
Dec 11, 2024	Board votes 6–1 to end Master Agreement	After heated public comment, the board decides not to renew the contract, citing governance concerns and a desire for broader teacher input.
May 2025	CSEA members vote to authorize strike	91% of union members support a one-day strike in response to the board’s refusal to bargain collectively.
Oct 8, 2025	Planned teacher strike	Educators will picket at schools starting 7:30 a.m., followed by a rally at Acacia Park at 2:30 p.m..

Governance vs. Labor: A Philosophical Divide

At the heart of the conflict lies a fundamental disagreement over how public education should be governed. Board members argue that the master agreement improperly delegated decision-making authority to a private entity—CSEA—thus violating principles of democratic accountability. Vice President Jill Haffley has claimed the agreement excluded nearly 40% of D11 teachers who are not union members, and that the board’s new approach will ensure “every teacher has a voice.”

CSEA leaders, however, contend that the board’s actions amount to union-busting. “This is not about inclusion—it’s about control,” said CSEA President [Name], who emphasized that the agreement provided essential protections for planning time, academic freedom, and due process. The union also warns that the board’s push to expand district-run charter schools could siphon resources from traditional public schools and erode educational equity.

Implications for Equity and Local Control

The strike comes amid broader concerns about the future of public education in Colorado Springs. Critics of the board’s direction point to its ties with political advocacy groups like D11 Momentum and Colorado Dawn, which have promoted charter expansion and opposed union influence. Supporters argue these reforms will increase flexibility and innovation, especially in underserved communities.

Yet for many educators, the loss of the master agreement signals a shift away from collaborative governance toward top-down management. “We’re not just fighting for a contract,” said one D11 teacher. “We’re fighting for the soul of our schools.”

What’s Next

As October 8 approaches, both sides remain entrenched. The board has stated it will not reinstate the master agreement, instead proposing a district-wide employee handbook modeled after neighboring districts. CSEA has vowed to continue organizing and pressuring the board to return to the bargaining table.

Whether the strike leads to renewed negotiations or deepens the divide, one thing is clear: the future of D11’s governance—and its commitment to equitable, community-driven education—is on the line.