The Upland Unified School District and the Upland Teachers Association have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for 2014-2015, restoring a number of benefits that were frozen during the school district’s current fiscal year of financial uncertainty.
“We believe it was important to come to an agreement before the end of the school year, and to do so after a year in which staff sacrificed so much and made considerable concessions is especially gratifying,” said UUSD Superintendent Dr. Nancy Kelly.
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“We appreciate that the Teachers Association and the District came together for meaningful negotiations,” Kelly added. “It’s important that our teachers go into summer knowing what their paychecks will be in the fall without having to worry about budget cuts or furlough days. This will hopefully boost morale. Our teachers deserve this.”
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"The sacrifices of the last year have been difficult for all of our members and we are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with the District that restores our benefits to previous levels,” said Debbie Glenn, lead negotiator for the Upland Teachers Association. “Upland teachers look forward to returning to school in the fall and working collaboratively with the District on issues of curriculum and instruction without the distraction of financial uncertainty."
Kelly said the agreement eliminated mandatory unpaid furlough days and restored the academic calendar to 180 days of instruction. There will be no change to the health care benefits and premiums will be fully paid by the district. The district also fully restored the freeze on yearly service-credit step increases, with teachers regaining credit for the year of service they missed during 2013-2014.
Ratification votes by UTA membership and the Board of Education will take place within the next several weeks.