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Modesto City Schools board approves CSEA contract with 2% ongoing raise, one-time payment and benefit increases
Summary
The board approved a tentative collective bargaining agreement with the California School Employees Association covering 2025–26 that includes a 2% ongoing increase (retroactive to July 1, 2025), a one-time $350 payment and expanded district health contributions; trustees expressed concern about long-term costs.
The Modesto City Schools Board of Trustees voted Jan. 20 to approve a tentative 2025–26 collective bargaining agreement with the California School Employees Association, concluding negotiations that district staff described as conducted in good faith.
District negotiator Mike Henderson presented the agreement to the board, saying the contract resolves six open articles and includes bargaining reopeners for health and welfare. Key elements include a 2% ongoing increase to the classified salary schedule effective retroactively to July 1, 2025; a one-time off-schedule payment of $350 to classified employees who are active at the date of board approval; and an additional $250 per month district contribution for employees who enroll in employee-plus-family health plans beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Henderson also described changes to retiree medical fund contributions, a pay‑card option for employees without direct deposit, an expansion of safety-footwear allowances and updated leave-of-absence language to reflect new law.
Henderson said the total fiscal impact presented in the board packet for the entire agreement was about $3.4 million in the first year, with an ongoing cost of roughly $2.4 million attributable to the 2% salary increase.
Trustee Samantha Marks said she shared the public-finance concerns raised by others on the dais and in the community but would vote for the contract while warning the board that ongoing payments could require using reserves if other employee groups negotiated larger increases. Vice President Daley said she would vote no because of concern that future settlements for other employee groups could increase long-term costs and jeopardize the district’s fiscal status.
The board approved the agreement by roll-call tally; staff recorded the ongoing fiscal impact and noted the agreement follows chapter ratification by CSEA. District staff said implementation steps and any required memoranda of understanding will follow the board’s approval.
The district’s presentation materials and the published agenda item include more detail on the fiscal assumptions and the specific contract language to be memorialized in a memorandum of understanding for implementation.
