Negotiations Update

Negotiations Update- April 15, 2024

The Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) and the California School Employees Association Chapter #275 (CSEA) met for a quick one-hour session on April 15, 2024  to continue successor negotiations for the 2023-2026 school years.   LMUSD presented and completed its proposal, which included the following:

• Article II, Miscellaneous - Counter proposal  language regarding new employee orientation practices;

• Article V, Wages - 5% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2023

• Article VI, Career Ladders - Counter proposal  language regarding  subcommittee of CSEA and District members to review Career Ladder language;

• Article XVI, Safety - Counter proposal language regarding designated CSEA representation on the District Safety Committee;

• Article XVII, Layoff and Reemployment - Counter proposal language regarding layoff language that aligns with changes to the Education Code;

The Parties found agreement in the addition of Juneteenth to Article VII, Holidays.

Upon request of CSEA, the negotiation session scheduled for April 18, 2024 was postponed.  When the Parties return on May 3, 2024, for a full-day session, CSEA will present its proposal.

Negotiations Update- April 9, 2024

The Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) and the California School Employees Association Chapter #275 (CSEA) met again today to continue successor negotiations for the 2023-2026 school years. CSEA continued its counter proposal and completed it towards the end of the day.  

 CSEA’s counter proposal included:

• Capturing new employee orientation practices;

• President release time;

• Modification of food service assignment language to be applicable to more unit members;

• Posting requirements for vacant positions; 

• Extra assignment language;

• An increase in salary of 10.3%, retroactive to July 1, 2023;

• Proposed language related to Tools and Equipment, and Uniform and Emblems;

• A 5% minimum increase to compensation for Extended Work Out of Classification

• The District’s agreement to participate in the Classified Employees Summer Assistance Program;

• A subcommittee of CSEA and District members to review Career Ladder language;

• An increase in the bilingual stipend from 2% to 5% for those passing an examination, and 1% to 2.5% for continued basic use of translation services;

• The addition of Juneteenth to Holidays and language specific to the development of classified calendars;

• Language clarifying enrollment and administration of  the Catastrophic leave bank;

• Designated CSEA representation on the District Safety Committee;

• Layoff language that aligns with changes to the Education Code;

The Parties have engaged in productive sessions and found agreement in the following:

• Reformatting of the CBA for member clarity;

• General updates to language made for consistency of pronoun use and bargaining unit member designation;

• Reorganizing of Article IX, Leaves for clarity;

• Language regarding extended sick leave after fully paid leave is exhausted. 

Since there was not time for the District to provide its counter proposal, the Parties agreed to add an additional afternoon session on April 15th so that the District can provide its counter proposal and the parties can make effective use of their all day negotiations session scheduled for April 18th.

The Parties also discussed the anticipated timelines for approval of any agreement and payment of any retroactive payments.  Once a Tentative Agreement is reached between the Parties, the following steps need to occur which will take approximately 80-120 days:

• State CSEA (610) approval (this has historically taken anywhere from 30-60 days)

• Ratification by CSEA membership (this has taken anywhere from 10-20 days)

• AB 1200 Process (This is the legally required process of submitting the agreement for review to the San Luis Obispo County Education Office) (10 working days)

• Board Approval (depends on timing, approximately 10 days)

• Preparation of retroactive payments by payroll (depends on timing but at least 20 days)

This means that in order to process retroactive payments to be received in the summer, the Parties would likely need to reach agreement this month.  If they do not, any retroactive payments would likely be processed in the fall of 2024.

Negotiations Update- March 6, 2024

We are excited to announce that after meeting again today, the Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) and the Lucia Mar Unified Teachers' Association (LMUTA) have reached a Tentative Agreement for the 2023-2024 School Year.  The Parties engaged in collaborative discussions throughout the process and reviewed data from comparative districts throughout the County (attached below).

The Tentative Agreement will move forward to be ratified by LMUTA membership and will be submitted for review by the County Office of Education to complete the AB 1200 process.  After these steps are completed, the agreement will be presented to the LMUSD Board of Education for final approval.

The terms of the Tentative Agreement include the following:

• 5% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2023;

• Expanding the definition of family for purposes of catastrophic leave;

• Clarifying the work year for high school athletic directors and memorializing speech and language pathologist stipend;

• Recognizing 15 years of prior service for certificated employees coming to Lucia Mar;

• Updating staffing ratios for Pacific View Academy;

• Updating language throughout the agreement for consistency.

Cody King, President 

LMUTA

Jennifer Handy, Assistant Superintendent

Negotiations Update- February 23, 2024

The Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) and the Lucia Mar Unified Teachers' Association (LMUTA) met again today, February 23, 2024, to continue negotiations for the 2023-2024 school year.  The Parties engaged in a productive session with the District providing its counterproposal in the morning.   During that session, the Parties also continued to engage in valuable discussions regarding professional development and collaboration time. When the Parties returned to the table after caucus in the afternoon, LMUTA began providing its counterproposal.  When the Parties return on March 6, 2024, for a half-day session, LMUTA will complete its proposal.

Negotiations Update- February 8, 2024

The Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) and the Lucia Mar Unified Teachers' Association (LMUTA) met today to commence negotiations for the 2023-2024 school year.  The session started with a presentation on the District budget and a discussion about the State budget and impacts on the District. The District then provided its proposal on Article VI: Hours of Work, Article IX: Class Size, and Article XIV: Salaries.  In brief, the District proposed the following:

• 5% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2023;

• Language clarifying TK/K teacher duties; 

• An increase in the high school Athletic Director work year from 184 to 214;

• The memorialization of a 2009 MOU reflecting a $7,500 stipend for speech-language pathologists;

• The standardization of student:staff ratios at Pacific View Academy to the following: 35:1 for Supervising Teachers; 28:1 for those serving as Supervising Teacher and Teacher of Record; and 100:1 for those serving as Teachers of Record only;

• An increase in service credit for new employees from 14 to 15 years of service; and

• A multi-year agreement with reopeners;

Additionally, general updates to language were made for consistency of pronoun use and bargaining unit member designation in other sunshined articles. The Parties also engaged in collaborative discussions regarding professional collaboration and will bring back related proposals.

After the caucus, the teams returned to the table and LMUTA proposed the following:

• 7.5% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2023;

• Increase in health and benefit contribution to $11,100 for single plans, $12,600 for single plus one plans, and $14,100 for family plans; and apply the same for retirees

• 100 additional special education release days;

• A joint committee to evaluate minimum days;

• Compensation for supervising additional students in the absence of a substitute;

• A new stipend for special education case managers, a middle school AVID Coordinator; an increase to the BCLAD stipend; and an increase to the $8000 stipend for speech language pathologists

• Maximum Class size language with compensation for teachers assigned beyond the cap;

• A reduced workload option for unit members close to retirement;

• Modified language regarding reassignment, criteria to earn a year of service credit, and mileage reimbursement for travel assignments.

LMUTA and LMUSD found agreement on updating language for consistency of pronoun use and bargaining unit member designation throughout sunshined articles.  

The teams will return to negotiations on February 23, 2024.  At the next meeting, the District will provide information and feedback regarding the total cost of LMUTA’s above proposal as well as providing a counter proposal.

Negotiations Update - January 11, 2023

The Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) and the California School Employee Association, Chapter #275 (CSEA) met again today to continue reopener negotiations for the 2022-23 school year.   To start, the District provided its counter proposal on Article V: Wages and Article XI: Health and Welfare Benefits.  In brief, the District proposed a 10% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2022 and an increase in the District’s health and welfare benefits contribution to $10,250.

After the caucus, CSEA responded with their proposal which included:

• Salary schedule restructuring that includes the elimination of, shifts to, and additional ranges added.

• An increase between Steps 8 and 9 from 4% to 5%.

• Insurance cap to stay at $10,000, with additional district compensation at a 50%/50% rate for any costs beyond cap increase (prorated by FTE).

• If this proposal (first 3 bullets) results in a less than 10% total compensation increase, then the additional percentage remaining will be applied as an across-the-board salary increase.

The teams are scheduled to meet on February 9, 2023.  At the next meeting, LMUSD will provide its counter-proposal.

Negotiations Update - December 8, 2022

The Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) and the California School Employee Association, Chapter #275 (CSEA) met this afternoon, to commence re-opener negotiations for the 2022-23 school year.  The team reviewed and analyzed the District’s budget.  The District then provided its proposal on Article V: Wages and Article XI: Health and Welfare Benefits.  In brief, the District proposed a 10% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2022 and language clarification.

Included with the District’s proposal was a presentation on the budget, with details about additional funding provided by the State and significant increased operating costs incurred by the District which ultimately enabled the District to offer a 10% raise.

After the caucus, CSEA came back and began their response which included:

• Salary schedule revisions that include elimination of, and shifts in Ranges for many classifications;

• An increase between Steps 8 and 9 from 4% to 5%

• 4% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2022; 

• Insurance cap increase to $11,000 for all members, with  additional district compensation at a 50%/50% rate for any costs beyond cap increase (prorated by FTE)

The teams are scheduled to meet on January 11, 2023.  At the next meeting LMUSD will provide its counter proposal.

Negotiations Update - December 6, 2022

The Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) and the Lucia Mar Unified Teachers' Association (LMUTA) met again today to continue negotiations.  The parties have reached a number of agreements related to the evaluation process and advancement on the salary schedule.

During the session, LMUTA finished its proposal from November 8, 2022 which included:

• 10% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2022;

• Insurance cap increase to $10,500 (ind), $11,500 (+1), and $12,500 (fam)

• Benefits rebate for all members 

• Late Start Mondays: 15 self-directed days for planning or collaboration; reduction to 5 professional development days for special educators

• 3 optional additional district in-service/work days beginning with the school year 2023-2024 through 2025-2026 to support learning recovery.

• 70 hours of flex time for school nurses

LMUSD  presented its comprehensive counter proposal to LMUTA, including:

• 10% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2022;

• Insurance cap increase to $10,250 for all members;

• 3 additional district in-service/work days beginning with the school year 2023-2024 through 2025-2026 to support learning recovery, with one being a teacher-directed day. Compensation for these days is on top of  the 10% proposed salary increase funded through one-time, restricted funds;

• The school nurse work year increased to 189 days;

• Clarification language related to extra duty hourly compensation

The day ended with LMUTA countering an additional time and we have scheduled an additional negotiations session for January 12, 2023.

Negotiations Update - November 8, 2022

The Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) and the Lucia Mar Unified Teachers' Association (LMUTA) met again today to continue negotiations.  During the productive session, LMUSD presented its comprehensive counter proposal to LMUTA, including:

• 10% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2022;

• 3 additional district in-service/work days beginning with the school year 2023-2024 through 2025-2026 to support learning recovery.  (Compensation for these days is on top of  the 10% proposed salary increase funded through one-time, restricted funds.);

• The school nurse work year increased to 194 days;

• Its counter  to LMUTA’s evaluation proposal related to nursing evaluations and allowing changes to the timing of evaluations for permanent employees that meet or exceed standards.  

After the caucus, LMUTA returned and began their response.  The teams have scheduled an additional meeting on December 6, 2022.   At the next meeting, LMUTA will complete its counter-proposal.

Negotiations Update - October 6, 2022

The Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) and the Lucia Mar Unified Teachers' Association (LMUTA) met on October 6, 2022, to commence negotiations for the 2022-23 school year.  The team began with discussions about negotiations, agreed to procedures and norms, and reviewed and analyzed the District’s budget.  The District then provided its proposal on Article VI: Hours of Work and Article XIV: Salaries.  In brief, the District proposed the following:

• 10% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2022;

• In addition,  3 work days beginning with the school year 2023-2024 through 2025-2026.  This is in addition to the 10% proposed salary increase (funded through one-time, restricted funds)

Included with the District’s proposal was a presentation on the budget, with details about additional funding provided by the State and significant increased operating costs incurred by the District which ultimately enabled the District to offer a 10% raise as well.  Also provided were SLO County Salary Comparisons (both currently and with the 10% proposed salary increase) for overall compensation percentages and daily rate.

After the caucus, LMUTA came back and began their proposal.  The teams have scheduled two additional days to meet (October 28, 2022 and November 8, 2022).  At the next meeting, LMUTA will complete its counter-proposal.

Negotiations Update  - January 31, 2022

The Lucia Mar Unified Teachers Association (“LMUTA”) and the District met on January 31, 2022 to continue negotiations.   At the January 27, 2022 negotiations session, the District presented on the continuously evolving State budget, which has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Given the latest budget numbers, and considering the Governor’s proposed budget released in January, the District was able to provide an updated proposal (left column in image below).  In addition to 4% retroactive to July 2021 and proposed 3% for 2022-23, it also included an up to 2% contingency salary increase depending on how much additional funding the District receives next year (Governor’s budget not yet approved and potential changes in how school funding will be calculated based on average daily attendance (ADA)).  On January 31, 2022, LMUTA presented its counter-offer and stated that it was not interested in a contingency proposal at this time.   In response, the District was able to offer an alternative one year proposal for 2021-2022 (right column in image below).  The District also  provided additional budget clarification (see attached).   Both the one year and two year offers remain on the table.

Negotiations Update  - January 28, 2022

The District and CSEA bargaining teams met for a fourth collaborative session today.  The Association completed sharing its proposals regarding Article XIV Organizational Security, Article VI Career ladders and Appendix A Extra Duty and/or Overtime Assignment Procedure.   The District shared its  counter-proposal for Article V - Wages as follows:

At the next session, scheduled for February 10, 2022, the District will complete its proposal regarding Article V related to reclassification procedures, Article VI - Career Ladders; Article XIV - Organizational Security; Article XVIII - Layoff and Reemployment, Article XVIII - Layoff and Reemployment; and Appendix A Extra Duty and/or Overtime Assignment Procedure.

The District and CSEA continue to have productive sessions and have reached agreement on the following articles: Article I - Recognition; Article II - Miscellaneous; and Article XIX - Discipline.

Negotiations Update  - January 25, 2022

The Lucia Mar Unified Teachers Association and the District met on January 25, 2022 to conduct negotiations.  The District has continued to make salary proposals based on updated information including the continuously evolving State budget, which has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Given the latest budget numbers, and considering the Governor’s proposed budget released in January, the District has proposed the following:

The parties have reached a number of agreements including those related to additional substitute release days for special education teachers and additional and increased stipends for areas such as teaching combination classes and EL Site Coordinators. 

Update on Pandemic Related Impact Negotiations

LMUSD and LMUTA continue to negotiate MOUs related to the impacts of the pandemic.  LMUSD has proposed the following (see attached proposed MOUs):

Substitute Shortage

To address the substitute shortage and to recognize the extra work of certificated employees, the District has proposed the following to begin immediately and to remain in effect until the end of the 2021-2022 school year:

• $52.77 hourly rate for subbing during preparation periods

•  $52.77/day for elementary teachers assigned 5 or more additional students (in excess of class roster)

•  $52.77 for extra duty hours worked by nurses

• Administration may only assign certificated employees to substitute during preparation periods where no substitute or volunteer can be found and after notification to the LMUTA president.

2022 Learning Recovery Program (Summer School)

• Daily rate of pay for LMUTA members volunteering to serve in the 2022 summer school program and LMUSD will not seek non-unit members for these positions until it has made all reasonable efforts to recruit unit members to staff all available positions.

Negotiations Update  - October 29, 2021

The Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) and the California School Employee Association (CSEA) Chapter #275 met on October 29, 2021, to commence negotiations for the 2021-22 school year. The team reviewed and analyzed the District’s budget and discussed proposals involving Article VI – Hours of Work, Article VIII – Transfers and Reassignments, Article I - Recognition; Article II - Miscellaneous; Article V - Wages; Article XIV - Organizational Security; Article XVIII - Layoff and Re-employment; Article XIX - Discipline; and Appendix A - Extra Duty and/or Overtime Assignment Procedures. It was a productive day filled with collaborative dialogue.  The next session is scheduled for November 19, 2021. 

Negotiations Update  - October 28, 2021

The Lucia Mar Unified School District (LMUSD) and the Lucia Mar Unified Teachers' Association (LMUTA) met on October 28, 2021, to commence negotiations for the 2021-22 school year. The team reviewed and analyzed the District’s budget and discussed proposals involving Article VI – Hours of Work, Article VIII – Transfers and Reassignments, Article IX – Class Size, XIII – Health and Welfare, and Article XIV – Salaries.  It was a productive day filled with collaborative dialogue. The next session is scheduled for November 9, 2021. 

Negotiations Update  - January 29, 2021

This past week the District met with both LMUTA (January 22, 2021) and CSEA (January 28, 2021) to consult on the District’s COVID-19 Safety Plan (CSP) for In-Person Instruction.  This new state mandate requires all school districts to post their safety plans to their websites prior to reopening for in-person instruction.  The CSP is made up of both the Cal/OSHA Prevention Program (CPP) and the COVID-19 School Guidance Checklist, both of which can be found in draft form on the District web page.

It should be noted that the collective collaborative efforts to date of LMUTA, CSEA, and the District to design a Reopening Plan that outlines a safe learning environment for students and working environment for staff during this pandemic, have facilitated our ability to develop this new CSP expeditiously and ready our whole community for the return to in-person instruction.

Negotiations Update  - November 4, 2020

After meeting briefly on Thursday, October 29, CSEA Chapter #275 and the District met again today for reopening negotiations regarding the return to hybrid in-person learning. We are excited to announce that the teams reached a new Tentative Agreement. Both teams held the safety of students and staff as the guiding priority throughout the discussions. The Tentative Agreement is subject to ratification by the Association and the Board of Education. The entire agreement is attached. 

Some of the key provisions include:
1. Five days of additional quarantine leave.
2. Continued surveillance testing of District employees, and any on site screening are considered part of the standard workday.
3. Additional procedures to assist transportation employees in addressing COVID related issues on their routes  

Sincerely, 
Deanna Teixeira, 
President 
CSEA Chapter #275

Jennifer Handy Ed.D., 
Asst. Superintendent, HR
LMUSD

Negotiations Update  - October 28, 2020

LMUTA and the District met again today for reopening negotiations regarding the return to hybrid in-person learning. We are excited to announce that the teams reached a Tentative Agreement. Both teams held safety and student learning as the guiding priorities throughout the discussions. The Tentative Agreement is subject to ratification by the Association and the Board of Education. The entire agreement is attached. 

Some of the key provisions include:

1. The July 24, 2020 Side Letter Agreement remains in effect.

2. Prioritization of scheduling separate in-person and distance learning only classrooms.

3. Five days of additional quarantine leave. 

4. Two additional asynchronous days provided prior to returning to in-person learning.

5. Continued surveillance testing of District employees.  

Sincerely, 

Cody King, President 

LMUTA

Jennifer Handy, Assistant Superintendent
LMUSD