GUSTINE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Wednesday, May 26, 2022
2022-2023 Teacher Negotiations Update
The District and GRTA held their second negotiations meeting on Wednesday, May 26, 2022 for 2022-2023 contract reopeners.
This meeting began with GRTA presenting its reopener proposals for Article X Leaves and Article XII Class Size. Thereafter, the District and GRTA reached an agreement on an MOU for Teachers on Special Assignment. The parties also agreed to schedule their next session for reopener negotiations on June 20, 2022, to give each team more time to consider State budgetary information for the 2022-2023 school year. Although the Governor’s May revise announced a COLA increase of 6.56%, both teams expressed an interest in waiting to pass compensation proposals until a better understanding of incoming funding is had.
Despite GRTA voicing dislike for the District’s initial proposals for Articles 14 (Teacher’s Work Year) and 15 (Teaching Day) passed on May 25, the District confirmed its proposal to add two Professional Development days to the work calendar would begin with the 2022-2023 school year on August 4 and 5, 2022, and continue thereafter. These added days would provide unit members an opportunity to earn extra per diem income for both days and will greatly benefit the educational programs for students. The District’s Article 15 proposal to add 13 minutes to the work day will further benefit students with additional instructional time as we exit the pandemic.
The District and GRTA also made additional progress in their negotiations for a new Article 25 for Counselors, which are now part of the GRTA unit. The District agreed with GRTA’s proposals to preserve Counselor flexibility in setting their daily schedules and to include the evaluation form and standards as an appendix to the Contract. However, GRTA has consistently pushed for a shortened work day for Counselors (8-hour day to 7.5-hour day) which the District adamantly opposes because it would decrease daily counselor services for students. Moreover, unlike teachers, Counselors have always had an 8-hour day before joining the GRTA unit, the same as management employees, and so the Counselor salary and Master's Stipend are set at higher amounts than teachers. Since the District is proposing to maintain the 8-hour work day for Counselors, in fairness the District’s proposal also maintains the status quo for the Counselor salary, Master’s stipend, and benefits by establishing a separate salary and benefits schedule for only Counselors.
The District and GRTA will continue negotiations on June 20, 2022. We look forward to another productive meeting on June 20, 2022. GUSD always appreciates our working relationship with GRTA.