Indianapolis, Indiana – Indianapolis Public Schools and AFSCME Local 661 are moving forward together after the IPS Board of School Commissioners approved a new two-year labor agreement that reinforces the district’s commitment to the employees who support students and schools every day. The agreement, which covers the period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, reflects months of discussion and collaboration between district leadership and union representatives.
AFSCME Local 661 represents a wide range of classified staff across IPS, including classroom assistants, instructional and media assistants, custodians, food service workers, and paraprofessionals. These employees are often the first to arrive and the last to leave, providing critical support that helps schools function smoothly and safely. The tentative agreement is retroactive to July 1, 2025, ensuring continuity and stability for the workforce.
District leaders emphasized that the contract is about more than wages. It is also about recognizing the essential role these employees play in shaping positive learning environments. Christina Aden Hamer, IPS Chief Human Resources Officer, said the agreement reflects a shared understanding of the importance of investing in the people who serve students daily.
“Our school service and support staff are essential to the success of our students and schools,” Aden Hamer said. “This tentative agreement reflects thoughtful collaboration and a shared understanding of the importance of fair compensation, clear expectations, and respectful working conditions. We appreciate the partnership with AFSCME Local 661 and remain committed to supporting the dedicated employees who serve our IPS community every day.”
Union leadership echoed that message, pointing to the agreement as a sign of mutual respect during a challenging time for public education. AFSCME Local 661 President Phyllis Bailey said the contract represents unity and shared purpose between the district and its classified employees.
“On behalf of the tireless efforts of the 370 proud and dedicated classified employees who are the foundation of Indianapolis Public Schools, we accept the current contract set forth,” said Bailey. “With the current climate and mishandling of education and its personnel on all levels, Indianapolis Public Schools and AFSCME Local 661 are aligned, steadfast and committed. Our partnership is fully collaborative and is invested to operate with dignity, respect and equity. This contract reflects the trust, confidence and hope held for our families, our communities and the district, now and in the future.”
One of the key components of the agreement is compensation. The contract includes a 2 percent pay increase in each year, providing predictable growth in wages over the life of the agreement. The contract also clarifies additional pay provisions for custodial staff, clearly outlining qualifications for overtime and compensation for work performed on Saturdays and Sundays outside regular schedules.
In addition, a new miscellaneous pay provision establishes a $2 per hour increase for classified staff who temporarily fill positions in a higher classification. This change creates a formal and transparent process to ensure employees are fairly compensated when they step into expanded responsibilities on an interim basis.
The agreement also addresses union rights and representation. Language has been clarified to define union representative rights, including paid time to provide representation to members. The contract further formalizes 160 hours of released time per academic year for legislative work conducted on behalf of Indianapolis Public Schools, recognizing the role union advocacy can play in supporting public education.
Updates were also made to time-off provisions, including bereavement leave. The new language allows the full five days of bereavement leave to be used non-concurrently, removing distinctions between immediate and non-immediate family relationships. The agreement also references board-approved exigent circumstances leave for deaths involving non-covered relationships, though approval is not guaranteed.
District officials say the agreement reflects a balanced approach that supports employees while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Union leaders say it provides clarity, fairness, and respect for classified staff whose contributions are sometimes overlooked but deeply felt in schools.
With the contract approved, both IPS and AFSCME Local 661 say they are focused on the future—continuing to work together to support students, families, and staff across the district. The agreement signals stability and shared commitment at a time when strong partnerships are increasingly vital to the success of public schools.
