Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Labor Relations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Teachers, union and parents press Santa Barbara Unified to negotiate a seventh-period day and more elementary prep time
Summary
At the Jan. 27 meeting dozens of public commenters — teachers, the SBTA president, parents and community members — urged the board and district to restore a seven-period day at junior highs and high schools and to increase elementary teacher planning time, citing lost arts access, program cuts and workload concerns.
Multiple teachers, union leaders and parents used public comment at the Jan. 27 Santa Barbara Unified board meeting to press the district and board to negotiate schedule changes and to provide more prep time for elementary teachers.
Teachers described how limited planning minutes hamper lesson prep, intervention and collaboration; one teacher estimated two credentialed positions would cost about $160,000, and a community member estimated the expense to restore a seven-period day at roughly $2,000,000. Steven Hughes, a La Colina music teacher, said the current schedule contributed to the honor band losing representation from Santa Barbara Junior High this year.
York Shingle, identified as SBTA president, criticized district communication and said the union's trust has been eroded by shifting district positions on negotiated items. Several speakers asked the board to instruct the district to return to the negotiating table on schedules and related working conditions. The board noted the topic is scheduled for discussion on Feb. 10 and reiterated the need for broad stakeholder engagement — including principals, students and parents — before any decision.
Relevant comments included:
"We are ready to negotiate," said one teacher urging a seven-period day to expand elective access. "Imagine what all of our teachers could do if we had more than 45 minutes a week to plan," another teacher said, listing the prep tasks that take time outside the classroom.
What happens next: the board scheduled a Feb. 10 discussion to explore implications, costs and stakeholder views on a potential seven-period day. Board members said the Feb. 10 session is intended for conversation, not immediate adoption of a schedule change.
The transcript records numerous named speakers during public comment; the board and administration acknowledged receipt of concerns and set an informational calendar item for Feb. 10.
