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Board discusses STARS Act MOU and pay-matrix scenarios as negotiators press for language
Summary
Board members reviewed a proposed MOU to qualify for STARS Act funding, weighed a one-year contract approach to avoid long-term overcommitments, and examined pay-matrix scenarios for classified, maintenance and secretarial units.
Board members spent a substantial portion of the meeting reviewing ongoing labor negotiations and a proposed memorandum of understanding intended to qualify the district for STARS Act funding. Committee member (S4) said the district must show OPI that it has an MOU in place by the stated deadline in order to receive state funds tied to the legislation.
Why it matters: The board and administrators discussed a short-term MOU approach so the district can accept preliminary STARS funding while continuing negotiations. Committee member (S4) emphasized caution about promising long-term salary commitments before the district knows the final funding formula. "We're not going to give a 12% raise," the member said, describing the board's reluctance to overcommit without confirmed revenue.
Administrators said they had asked the union what minimum language would be acceptable to permit access to STARS funds; the goal is to sign an MOU and continue bargaining so that OPI will consider the district compliant for the funding period. Staff described the practical accounting steps the district would need to take if a double payment arrives in one fiscal year, including an over-based budget amendment to record the unanticipated receipts and distribute them to salaries.
The board also reviewed pay-matrix scenarios for classified staff, maintenance and secretaries, modeling 4%, 6% and 8% adjustments and noting how matrix placement affects long-term costs. Members stressed retention goals and asked staff to compute the budgetary impact of each scenario, with the plan to finalize adjustments in June once state funding clarity improves.
What’s next: Staff will prepare cost-impact analyses for each pay scenario and a proposed MOU language that meets OPI’s requirements; the board expects to vote only after reviewing precise dollar impacts. Administrators indicated they will aim to resolve the matrices and any associated contract language by the board meeting in mid-May or June.
Ending: The board did not take formal action on contracts during this meeting; members asked staff to return with a recommended MOU text and the financial analysis needed to decide on short-term and long-term pay adjustments.
