Bemidji Education Support Professionals secures 2025-2027 contract

Aug. 17—BEMIDJI — Bemidji Education Support Professionals became the latest bargaining group to secure a new contract for the 2025-2027 term following unanimous approval by the

Bemidji Area Schools

Board of Education on Monday.

The agreement with BESP, which represents secretarial-clerical and paraprofessional employees, follows the approval of several tentative agreements with other district bargaining groups over the past few months.

Similar to other groups, BESP members see no salary increase for the 2025-2026 school year, though they will clinch a 2.72% salary increase for 2026-2027.

Health insurance contributions for employees working less than 30 weekly hours will increase $30 per month; for employees working more than 30 hours a week, the increase clocks in at $40 a month.

The total package increase for this agreement is 3.7% using the district's traditional costing model, which includes all costs for salary steps, longevity steps, insurance premium contributions, PERA contributions, FICA and other fringe benefits.

Superintendent Jeremy Olson thanked BESP for its time and energy throughout the arduous negotiations process, emphasizing the district's outlook on collective bargaining.

"It is important to note that the district has always maintained that fair compensation within our means is an important bargaining principle," Olson noted. "To ensure our ability to attract and retain quality staff, the district is committed to providing the best possible compensation for our employees within the means available."

The full meeting can be viewed on the

Bemidji Area Schools YouTube channel.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, in the district board room.

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