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Board votes to open contract negotiations with classified and certificated units
Summary
Trustees approved proposals to open successor negotiations with CSEA Chapter 301 (classified staff) and the district's certificated unit (PAEA), signaling the start of bargaining for compensation, benefits and other articles; staff said the district will publish budget context and consider public transparency about the process.
The Palo Alto Unified School District board voted May 13 to open successor negotiations with two bargaining units: the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter 301 (classified employees) and the Palo Alto Educators Association (PAEA) certificated unit.
Under the government-code "sunshine" process, the board and unions identify the contract articles they intend to open; for CSEA the district identified a limited set of articles in addition to compensation and benefits, while with the certificated unit staff said the entire contract was available for discussion. Superintendent Don Austin said staff will post budget context information and invited discussion about whether bargaining would be interest-based or positional; that choice affects what documents are publicly posted during talks.
A trustee asked for clearer public-facing materials on district budgets and reserves; Dr. Austin said staff is preparing a website and budget background to share earlier in the process than in past cycles. Trustees emphasized stakeholder engagement and requested that staff return with a plan for how the public will follow bargaining progress.
The board approved separate motions to begin negotiations with each unit. No tentative agreement was reached that night; bargaining timelines and specific proposals will be negotiated between district negotiators and the unions.
