LUDINGTON — The Ludington Area School District Board of Education and the Ludington Education Association came to agreement on the union’s contract for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. The agreement was reached on Dec. 8 with LEA members ratifying the agreement during a Dec. 11 vote. The LASD Board officially approved the contract during its Dec. 15 meeting. The new contract comes after nearly five months of collective bargaining and offers salary increases and off-schedule payments.
“We appreciate the Ludington Education Association for its collaboration as we came to an agreement that honors the critical role they hold in educating our students while ensuring we maintain our long-term financial stability as a district,” said Bret Autrey, president of the board of education. “While this has been a long process, everyone involved cares deeply for our students, our district and community. I know we are in a solid place moving forward and are ready to continue working together to serve our students.”
Teacher Brenda Massie, chief negotiator for the LEA said union members are pleased that the process is finished.
“This new contract will help us attract and retain great teachers for our students, so they can acquire the necessary skills to succeed in life after graduation,” Massie said.
“With a new district leadership team coming together, we hope LASD educators and administrators can work together to ensure Ludington Area Schools continue to provide the community and the student with an outstanding educational experience. The Ludington Education Association and our members look forward to continuing our work with administrators, school board members, parents and community leaders to have the greatest positive impact on the students entrusted to our care.”
The contract negotiations caused a rift between the union and school administration with disagreements about the school’s availability of funds. Last month, now former superintendent Kyle Corlett revealed that the school’s financial records were off by over $2 million, in favor of the district. Since that time, both Corlett and district business manager, Laura Jacobs, have both resigned.
“Strong schools are the foundation of our community, helping to grow young minds and set students up for success,” Autrey said. “Working together with our teachers, administrators, board, and parents, I know we will continue to focus on what we do best: Supporting education programs, fostering community involvement, and promoting innovation to benefit students and the Ludington area.”
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