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Meet-and-Confer team outlines pay, benefits and longevity priorities; district absorbs health insurance cost
Summary
Deputy Superintendent Giovanna Grijalva and teacher representative Jessie Lee summarized Meet-and-Confer priorities for 2024–25: certified staff salaries, insurance/benefits and stipends, plus district work on extra-duty contracts, sick-leave accrual and alignment of handbook to policy; presenters said the district currently absorbs health insurance costs (about $12,000,000).
Deputy Superintendent Giovanna Grijalva and teacher and CEA representative Jessie Lee presented the Meet-and-Confer team's priorities for 2024–25 to the Cartwright Elementary District governing board on Feb. 6.
Grijalva said the team—s top priorities — driven by a districtwide survey — are certified staff salaries, insurance and benefits, and stipends. Jessie Lee told the board the prior year—s focus had been Educational Support Professionals (ESPs) and related schedules; this year the team shifted to certified staff (teachers, counselors and TOSAs). Lee said ESP increases awarded last year varied by placement on the schedule because of the state minimum-wage changes, with increases ranging "anywhere from... $2 to down to 50 cents" depending on placement.
Grijalva said the district provides health insurance for qualified staff and estimated the annual cost at about $12,000,000. She described other district priorities under review, including extra-duty contracts, sick-leave accruals, a longevity program and aligning the employee handbook to district policy. Board members asked how full-time status and benefits eligibility are defined; presenters said full-time is generally 30 hours or more and that crossing-guard or before-school-care hours vary by assignment.
Board members also asked for detail on ESP counts; presenters discussed an approximate number of ESP/classified employees (transcript references '988' and figures near 900), and agreed to follow up with precise numbers. Grijalva said the Meet-and-Confer team will reconvene as needed and that a subsequent meeting was scheduled for the coming Monday.
The meeting record shows board interest in continued reporting and in receiving written follow-up on the salary schedules, insurance costs and implementation of longevity and extra-duty adjustments.
