Union and district describe progress and lingering questions on retroactive pay

Board members heard updates about retroactive pay calculations and negotiations between district negotiators and the Lodi Unified Education Association.

Superintendent (identified in the meeting as Neil Young) summarized a recent meeting with LEA leadership and negotiators about retro checks and said payroll must ensure individual teachers receive correct retroactive payments and that future pay is accurately reflected on pay stubs and reported to STRS. He told teachers with questions to meet with payroll for a line‑by‑line review of their own calculations.

Leonard Wilkins, president of the Lodi Education Association, told the board the retro pay issue is complex because members are on different pay schedules (some year‑round July–June and others on August–July), which affected retro calculations and led to uneven outcomes for some members. "This retro pay issue is complex," Wilkins said, and he urged clearer processes and better communication from payroll.

Answela Garcia, speaking during public comment, said she received a retro check but still had unresolved questions about the math and time sheets and that she had difficulty leaving messages for payroll staff.

Wilkins and others expressed support for interest‑based bargaining (IBB) training the negotiating teams will attend in December or January in advance of successor contract negotiations starting in February, describing the training as a step toward more collaborative talks.

What the board did: The meeting record shows discussion and assurances of follow‑up; no formal board action or policy change on retro pay was taken during this session.

Next steps: Payroll follow‑up with individual teachers and continued bargaining preparation, including IBB training, were presented as the district’s plan.