On Friday, June 2, 2023, the District negotiated with MVTA Leaders from 3:00 - 9:30 pm. While the parties did not reach a tentative agreement, the District remains committed to providing our teachers a fair wage increase, ensuring student-centered support, and is open to reaching a tentative agreement with MVTA Leaders.

ANSWER EXPANDED:  

While we have not reached a tentative agreement to complete negotiations, the District has agreed to the following items:

• • Increase certificated stipends.
  • Increased extra duty hourly pay beyond the contracted 7 hours and 5 minutes work day.
  • Increase of Ph.D./EdD and National Board certification stipends.
  • Increased years of service credit accepted upon initial hire.
  • Memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide 6 hours per day of instructional aide time for Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten classrooms. 
  • Additional compensation for middle school teachers who teach three subject matters.
  • Provide preparation periods for middle school teachers.
  • Release days for classroom teachers to perform student assessments.

The following articles are still being negotiated:

• Article 21.1 - Salary
• Article 10.2.1 - Instructional services during student lunch periods.
• Article 10.4.1.1 - Preparation and Planning Time (Elementary)
• Article 10.9 - Staff Meetings

On Friday, June 2, 2023, the District presented MVTA Leadership with an offer consisting of a 10.0% salary increase for 2023-24 coupled with a 3.5% salary increase for 2024-25.  This is a total increase of 13.5% over two years. MVTA Leadership rejected the District’s offer and is proposing 10% for 2023-24 and 6% for 2024-25, equaling to 16% over two years. 

ANSWER EXPANDED:  

The above offer also includes the district continuing to cover 100% of the medical, dental, and vision premium increases for Employees and Employees+1 over the next two fiscal years for 2023-24 and 2024-25. Even though our benefit costs are expected to increase 8.1% next year, we will maintain the highest level of benefits among all the districts in Marin.

Previously, the District compensation offer to MTVA Leaders was an 8% increase for 2023-24 and 3% for 2024-25.

If the District’s salary offer goes any higher, we would have to consider cuts to student programs, such as our Targeted Learning Labs, increases to class size, layoffs, and the District would be unable to launch and fund new programs, such as Spanish and STEAM classes.

Even with our current proposal, the District may face downgrading of our Measure G bond program, costing the District millions of dollars and jeopardizing the middle school rebuild.  By meeting MVTA's demands, the District could face a much worse downgrade prospect, resulting in a significant reduction in the scope of our middle school construction and modernization program.

If the District’s salary offer goes any higher, we would have to consider cuts to student programs, such as our Targeted Learning Labs, increases to class size, layoffs, and the District would be unable to launch and fund new programs, such as Spanish and STEAM classes.

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No. The District wants to ensure it can provide student services during lunch, including having libraries open and counseling services, rather than students being pulled out of class time. All staff members are guaranteed a duty-free lunch. 

ANSWER EXPANDED

In line with the District’s mission to provide a balanced education that also fosters social-emotional well-being, we are seeking to expand student opportunities and supports at lunch.  Currently, there are music teachers, art teachers, librarians, PE teachers, and counselors on staff (referred to as “specialists”) that have time in their daily or weekly schedule to offer such outlets or support to students.  The District is proposing language that would grant principals (in consultation with a specialist)  the ability to assign activities (i.e. Drop-In Art, Drop-In Music, Clubs, Recess Games, Open Library, Friendship Groups, etc.) to specialists that have time in their schedule to provide these services directly to students.  Any specialist that provided such a service would take their lunch right before or after the student lunch period.  Finally, it should be noted that the District’s proposed language would not impact the classroom teacher’s lunch period.

Currently, MVTA Leaders’ interpretation of the contract restricts the ability of principals to provide professional development during the entire staff meeting. The District is seeking to codify staff meetings as part of the workday so that staff meetings provide greater value to our educators. Additionally, the District is seeking to maintain contract language regarding consultation with MVTA for staff meeting planning. The District is not seeking to call staff meetings “at will,” but rather to clarify what can be discussed at staff meetings.

No, the District is negotiating in good faith with MVTA Leaders regarding the workday. The District is seeking through the negotiations process to find agreement on both Article 10.2., Article 10.4.1.1. (which would codify 200 minutes of preparation and planning time for elementary teachers) and Article 10.9.

ANSWER EXPANDED:

Our current negotiations include the topic of teacher preparation time. Currently, the contract provides 150 minutes per week to each classroom teacher. The District’s offer is to increase teacher preparation time with the understanding that MVTA Leaders agree to the District’s student-centered proposals regarding staff meetings and specialists providing student services during students’ lunch, as described above.  The District looks forward to receiving additional proposals from MVTA Leadership. In the interim, the District will continue to brainstorm options for a mutually acceptable resolution.

The District and MVTA Leaders have met nine times and have made substantial progress. The District is committed to continuing good-faith negotiations.  If the parties are unable to reach a tentative agreement, there is the possibility that an impasse will be declared.  

ANSWER EXPANDED

If an impasse is reached, the Public Employment Relations Board assigns a neutral mediator to facilitate future talks. The mediator’s recommendations are private and non-binding without the authority to compel an agreement. This is a normal part of public school labor negotiations, and hundreds of school districts have used mediation to narrow their differences and clarify the issues in dispute.