School Board, Pajaro Teachers Reach Tentative Agreement

From PVUSD:Today, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees welcomed the opportunity to vote and approve the Tentative Agreement with the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Dr. Chona Killeen, and PVFT Chief Negotiator, Nelly Vaquera-Boggs, presented on the Agreement, highlighting the most significant components.

Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent, said that, “Due to us being forward thinking and having the support of the Board of Trustees, we were able to provide the best compensation package possible by working with the Benefits Committee using the new LCFF funding Districts will received for the 2018- 19 school year. We truly value our teachers.” On May 18, 2018, PVFT membership voted to ratify the Tentative Agreement. Approximately 85% of 952 of the PVFT bargaining unit members voted in favor the Tentative Agreement. The County Office of Education reviewed the Agreement and made a declaration to its financial feasibility. Leslie DeRose, President, Board of Trustees, was unable to attend the meeting but her excitement was also evident in her communication with the District after the agreement was ratified by PVFT: “PVUSD’s leadership team has worked diligently with PVFT to ensure teachers receive the best compensation package we can afford. Congratulations to both, PVUSD and PVFT negotiations team, for coming together in this agreement that ultimately benefits our students.” Vice President Maria Orozco, who presided over the meeting in President DeRose’s absence, stated that, "As a board, we respect and value the work of our teachers. We hope this multi- year agreement helps provide teachers with the best possible compensation at this time, while also helping us attract and retain educators."

Here are the highlights for the 3-year agreement:
2016-17

 1% on-schedule raise to each salary schedule for K-12, Adult Education, ECE, Psychologists/Speech Language Pathologist /Program Specialists; retroactive to July 1, 2016
 One-time, off-schedule of 2% to all PVFT members who were employed through 2016-17 2017-18
 2% on-schedule raise to each salary schedule retroactive to July 1, 2017
 6% additional, retroactive to July 2017, for Early Childhood Education Programs and Adult Education/Independent Study
 $1,612 stipend for qualifying bilingual teachers and roving teachers, retroactive to July 2017
 Benefits changes to become effective October 2018
o Generic prescription drug increase from $3 to $5
o Non-Generic prescription drug increase from $15 to $20
o Co-pay increase from $10 to $20
 School Nurses will be placed on the same work year and higher salary schedule as School Psychologists
2018-19
 4% on-schedule raise to each salary schedule, effective July 1, 2018
 2 additional days added to the work year for all PVFT bargaining unit members on an ongoing basis
o 1 day to be a teacher workday
o 1 day to be District-determined
 Clarity around the purpose and function of the District-Wide Health and Welfare Benefits Committee
 $2,500 signing bonuses for teachers in areas of mathematics, science, and special education – established through 2020 unless extended by mutual agreement of negotiating parties

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