Coronado Unified School District

April 16, 2024

Negotiations Update

We value and respect every member of our school community and entered into labor negotiations with ACT on March 18, 2024 with the expectation that the respect will be shared with our colleagues at the bargaining table. We also know that negotiations can be confusing, particularly for those not at the bargaining table, and that contradicting or select information without context may be presented. We are committed to providing transparent, timely and accurate updates regarding the process, the timeline, the budget, and any other matters related to items being negotiated. We are also committed to responding to questions that our constituents may have regarding negotiations. As such, we have created and will regularly update the Labor Negotiations page, with a link to submit questions, on the CUSD website. 

This year’s negotiations are unique for a variety of reasons. School districts across the state are grappling with a bleak long term budget outlook, but unlike others, CUSD has reason for hope. We have been working and planning toward a locally funded Basic Aid future (with an anticipated $10-$12 million budget increase in SY 2027-28), and now we find ourselves near the finish line. Unfortunately the State came up unexpectedly and significantly short of its projected budget (which directly affected our ‘Bridge to Basic Aid’ budget plan). As a result, our Long Range Plan objective of strategically spending down our reserve to prioritize programs for students, by no fault of our own, has been compromised. 

We have spent years building the district and programs we want in place when we reach Basic Aid. There will be money for staff and programs at that time, but until then we will not compromise the pathways and programs we have built for our students. 

The most recent proposals given to CUSD from ACT (outlined in the Proposal Updates document and totalling over $2.5 million in increased, ongoing costs - their initial proposal was in excess of $5 million) would necessitate the dismantling of programs and the elimination of many positions/people, which would negatively alter our school community and our mission to educate students. 

CUSD remains fully committed to our Long Range Plan and the Guiding Principles within it.

Again, we would like to reiterate that our current financial situation is a direct result of the State’s decrease in COLA and a sustained decline in enrollment. This coming year’s COLA is estimated to be approximately 0.82% . That minimal cost of living adjustment is intended to cover all the costs incurred by schools associated with educating children. It includes but is not limited to employee compensation, employee benefits, instructional materials, utility costs, and supplemental services. 

LINK to more COLA information for this year and the last two years.

It should also be noted that CUSD Certificated staff with anywhere between 1-30 years of service, receive automatic salary increases according to Step & Column as teachers move across and down the pay schedule. Annual step increase amounts range from 0.2% up to 6.72%, with the median of a 2.5% raise (link to chart). Our initial proposal to ACT, ‘A Step for All’ addresses the valued staff who may be entering Step 31 or higher. That, along with 0.82% increase to the salary schedule ensures that every ACT member will get a pay raise next year regardless of negotiations. 

While the district cannot negotiate more than three years out, there is a steadfast and stated commitment to delivering a deserved pay raise in a fiscally responsible manner upon reaching Basic Aid, or sooner, as State funding allows. 

We understand that school budgeting can be confusing, and that there may be conflicting information shared. We have shared document links where appropriate and will continue to be available to answer any questions. Our “Just Ask” form is still open and we welcome any questions. We will use the questions to continue to update our FAQ document. All materials and updates related to bargaining will be posted on the Labor Negotiations page on our website. 

Outside of budget issues, CUSD proposed a change to the school calendar. CUSD has determined that a calendar that is more aligned to neighboring districts, and allows for the end of Term 1 prior to winter break, is in the best interest of students’ academic achievement and mental wellness. Though there were no changes to the number of workdays for teachers, these remain at 186, with six workdays for professional learning, grading, and preparation, ACT was unwilling to look at changing the calendar for this year or changing their contract to have the teacher calendar mirror the instructional calendar created by the district in the best interest of students.

At the December 14, 2023, Governing Board Meeting, the Association of Coronado Teachers (ACT) presented Initial Proposals for Negotiations to the Coronado Unified School District (CUSD) for the 2023-2026 Successor Contract.