Negotiations Update 5-19-21

Negotiations Update 5-19-21
Posted on 05/19/2021
The District and the Eureka Teachers Association (ETA) met for a fourth half-day of 2021-22 contract negotiations on May 19, from 9-1 pm.

ETA presented a counterproposal agreeing on the additional 5 instructional days for 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 as proposed by the District, but requesting an 8% salary increase in each of those years instead of the 5% offered by the District.

In response, the District presented a comprehensive counterproposal, maintaining its proposal for 5 additional instructional days tied to a 5% increase for the three years. Additionally, the proposal included a 5% ongoing compensation increase, to be allocated between salary and benefits (or other compensation items requested by ETA). The District’s package also included language counterproposals reflecting movement, as described below:

Leaves (Art. 13) – the District increased its offer of no-tell days from 4 to 5 (a whole school week)
Teacher Hours (Art. 24) –
Standardizing prep time (does not impact current 6-12 grade teachers, but defines 50 mins of prep time per day for TK-5 grade teachers on non-collaboration days)

§ Note: this will not create a reduction in elementary music teachers

Extending the primary school day (TK-3 grades) by 23 minutes, and reducing the 4-5 grade school day by 7 minutes (to allow for common start/end times),
Implementing new athletic coaching requirements (impacting only new PE teachers hired for the 21/22 school year and beyond),
Agreeing to an equal split of collaboration time (as teachers voted – a 60/60 split), and
Clarifying that the middle school advisory period is determined by the site administrator

ETA opted not to present a counterproposal, stating the parties are too far apart on too many issues. The parties will invite the assistance of a mediator from the State Mediation and Conciliation Service. The date of mediation is pending.