District, Teachers Reach Tentative Agreement

From an Alameda Unified School District press release:

Alameda, Friday, March 1, 2013 – With the assistance of Assembly Member Rob Bonta serving as a volunteer mediator for several hours, negotiating teams representing the District and the Alameda Education Association (AEA) have reached a tentative agreement (TA) fully resolving successor contract negotiations between the parties.

The next steps in the process are for AEA members to review the TA and then for AEA membership to vote whether to ratify it. If AEA membership votes to ratify, the Board of Education would act on the TA as soon as possible at a subsequent Board meeting.

Board President Neil Tam shared his thoughts on the TA: “As Board President, I appreciate the professionalism, perseverance, and creativity of Superintendent Vital and AUSD staff in continuing to overcome obstacles on the long, difficult path we have traveled to arrive at this agreement. I expect all of us in the District will build on the spirit of collaboration and compromise reflected in this TA. Thank you to Gray Harris, AEA President, and to the members of both bargaining teams for all they have done to reach this agreement.”

Assembly Member Bonta also thanked the negotiating teams for the agreement: “I appreciate how hard both bargaining teams have worked to find common ground and reach this agreement resolving negotiations. I am proud to have been able to play a role assisting the parties in reaching a fair, responsible agreement that provides a well-deserved increase in compensation for teachers, protects the fiscal health of the school district and allows all to move forward and continue the important work of serving Alameda’s students.”