Trustees ratify tentative classified-union agreement and renew interest-based bargaining facilitator

The Laguna Beach Unified School District board ratified a tentative agreement with the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter 131 and approved renewal of a memorandum to retain a neutral interest-based bargaining (IBB) facilitator at the Sept. 11 meeting.

Contract terms: Staff described the agreement for the 2025-26 year as including a 2.75% salary increase and a vacation-day accrual adjustment that together amount to an estimated 3% total compensation package. Staff recommended ratification; the board approved the tentative agreement in a recorded vote.

Facilitator and process: The board also approved a not-to-exceed $32,700 renewal for a collective-consultancy facilitator to support interest-based bargaining during the 2025-26 negotiations. Union representatives argued the neutral facilitator is essential for constructive bargaining, particularly with leadership transitions (a new superintendent and incoming CBO) and unresolved health-insurance questions. Porter James Hughes, labor-relations representative for CSEA, urged trustees to "continue what is working," calling the facilitator a key ingredient in maintaining collaborative labor-management relationships.

Audit context and trustee concern: The session included extended discussion about a district audit of health-care premium payments that the superintendent said is underway; several trustees asked that the audit and its findings be resolved in parallel with bargaining work. The superintendent told the board the bargaining teams and the IBB facilitator are not implicated in the ongoing audit and recommended approval of the IBB MOU to preserve trust between the district and the unions.

Outcome: The board moved and approved ratification of the tentative agreement and approved the IBB facilitator MOU. The superintendent and staff will finalize document copies and return executed agreements to the board.