Teachers’ unions press board as bargaining stalls; SRFT says district offer falls short of fair‑share formula

Leaders from the district’s two main teachers’ unions used the San Rafael City Schools board meeting on Dec. 16 to press for clarity and a larger pay offer as bargaining continues.

Morgan Agnew, president of the San Rafael Federation of Teachers (SRFT), reviewed the district’s history with a "fair‑share" salary formula and said the union’s calculation this year yields 1.65% while the district’s offer was 0.7%. Agnew told trustees the district also included a negative true‑up a year early, which SRFT says reduced this year’s raise. The union offered to accept 0.7% now only if the remaining 0.95% were paid as a one‑time bonus as late as December 2026; the district declined that compromise in negotiations, Agnew said.

Agnew asked that board members attend a negotiation session and that School Services of California brief trustees and the board to rebuild a shared understanding of the fair‑share process. "If the district continues to insist on an offer that isn't aligned with fair share, that tells us all we need to know," Agnew said, urging the board to provide direction.

Brianna Padilla, president of the San Rafael Teachers Association (SRTA), thanked business‑office staff and the elementary Budget Advisory Committee for their work on budget documents and urged the district to make sure updates reach rank‑and‑file members and broader community stakeholders. Padilla emphasized the union’s interest in minimizing cuts that would affect student learning and requested clearer communication about next steps in January.

Board members acknowledged the unions’ presentations; trustees suggested follow‑up sessions and the option of bringing School Services of California into a joint briefing to clarify the fair‑share process. No formal board action on bargaining terms occurred at the meeting.