(COLORADO SPRINGS) — At a Colorado Springs School District 11 (D11) Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 11, a decision was made on the Master Agreement between the district and the Colorado Springs Education Association (CSEA) union. The meeting began with nearly an hour and a half of public comments from union members, teachers, former teachers, and parents of the district, who were for and against renewing the Master Agreement that has been in place for over 50 years. Arguments against the Master Agreement Some teachers, parents, and former teachers stood against the Master Agreement, and argued that the union is a private corporation that should not have a hand in local classrooms. Parents argued that the agreement is able to supersede the Board's decision on what can be taught in classes, which undermines the authority of the Board. Those in opposition of the Master Agreement also alleged that dues to the union are often not kept within the district, and instead end up redirected by the CSEA to one-sided political causes, rather than being dedicated to education specifically in El Paso County. Some parents argued that the Master Agreement squashes the voice of parents in their children's education, and that every other district in the county functions without such an agreement. Arguments for the Master Agreement Many of the teachers in support of the Master Agreement argued that it ensures working conditions, compensation, benefits, planning time, and break time, and acts to attract and retain teachers in the district because of the stability the agreement guarantees. Teachers also argued that they should not face censorship when they choose to teach challenging and "controversial" topics. Some in support of the agreement also argued that recent pay increases for staff were only achieved because of CSEA bargaining, and should the agreement be allowed to expire, teachers will leave the district if their compensation and benefits are not ensured by the Master Agreement, leading to the exacerbation of teaching shortages, which some described as a "crisis." Board vote Members of the Board of Education in opposition to the Master Agreement assured teachers that, should the agreement be allowed to expire, an Employee Handbook would serve in a similar manner as the agreement to dictate employee actions and benefits, similar to other districts in the county. The Board stated that teacher pay and benefits would not change even if the agreement was dissolved. Ultimately, the Board voted 7-1 to allow the Master Agreement to end at its expiration date in June 2025.