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Teachers’ Union Tentative Agreement Draws Praise; Community Urges Protection of Student‑Facing Jobs
Summary
Board members and union leaders announced a tentative labor agreement after lengthy negotiations. Community speakers and union representatives praised the deal and urged the board to avoid cuts that would affect counselors, librarians, and other student-facing positions amid budget pressures.
Board members, union leaders and community members on Dec. 11 described a tentative agreement reached this week between the district and bargaining teams after protracted negotiations.
At public comment, OGA organizer Brena Joel thanked the board and community for supporting the educators’ bargaining efforts and celebrating what she called a “tentative agreement” reached at mediation. "This tentative agreement is a reflection of what happens when educators organize, stand together, and use their voices to fight for the schools our students deserve," Joel said.
Union representatives at the meeting echoed the gratitude. An official representing one bargaining unit said the agreement was a statement of retention and respect for the educators who work directly with students.
Speakers urged the board to scrutinize the district’s services-and-other-operations budget before cutting positions that directly serve students. One commenter pointed to increases in services and other operating line items from $22 million to $26 million and urged board members to demand an itemized list before reducing staff. "Cutting positions that directly work with students is not acceptable," a public speaker said.
Superintendent Chitus thanked bargaining teams, labor associations and trustees for their collaboration and described the agreement as an important milestone. He also reminded the board that the district faces fiscal trade-offs and that further work is needed to balance ongoing expenses.
The tentative agreement was discussed in the context of the district’s first interim budget report and the fiscal stabilization plan debated later in the meeting, where public testimony repeatedly urged protecting counselors, library clerks and community liaisons.
The agreement is tentative; details will be finalized and presented to the board for any formal ratification steps required under district policy and collective bargaining procedures.
