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Colton Unified board approves resolution to negotiate Community Workforce Agreement for bond-funded projects
Summary
After a detailed presentation and public debate, the Colton Joint Unified School District board voted to begin negotiating a Community Workforce Agreement for its Measure BB bond projects and to include remaining Measure G funds; supporters cited local hiring and apprenticeship pathways, while contractors warned of higher costs and fewer bidders.
Colton Joint Unified School District trustees voted Aug. 7 to authorize negotiations for a Community Workforce Agreement (CWA) covering construction projects funded by the district’s Measure BB bond and the remaining Measure G funds. The board adopted a resolution directing staff to begin drafting a proposed agreement and to engage stakeholders, with a motion by Board President Flores and a second from Board member Fuentes; the motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
The board heard a 45-minute presentation from attorney Tom Kovasich, who described CWAs as negotiated agreements that set uniform labor standards — including grievance arbitration, drug policies and local-hire goals — for specific projects or a bond program. Kovasich told trustees, “It does not exclude any otherwise responsive and responsible contractor from bidding the work. There is no exclusion.” He said CWAs can be tailored with tiered local-hire goals (for residents, graduates and veterans) and apprenticeship commitments, but acknowledged administrative costs and potential short-term disruption to the bidder pool.
Supporters at the meeting — including representatives of the Carpenters, the Western State Regional Council and other building trades — urged the board to use a CWA to keep construction dollars and jobs in the Inland Empire and to create career pathways for graduates and veterans. Omar Cobian, representing union carpenters, said such agreements can “support local workers, build pathways for students into a stable career and ensure public dollars are invested back into the community.”
Contractors opposed or warning caution included Russell Johnson of the Associated Builders and Contractors, who argued CWAs can increase costs and reduce competition. “There’s consequences of PLAs. There’s cost increases. You’re looking at cost increases as high as 18%,” Johnson said, urging continued dialogue with nonunion contractors to protect local apprenticeship pipelines.
Board members asked detailed questions about how a CWA would interact with prevailing-wage laws, how local-hire tiers would be defined and who would administer compliance. Trustees repeatedly framed the decision as balancing cost against local economic value: several said they were willing to accept some administrative cost if it delivered more local hires, apprenticeships and sustained quality work on Measure BB projects. President Flores announced an amendment to the resolution to explicitly include the district’s remaining Measure G funds for the new Bloomington elementary school; that amendment was included before the vote.
What happens next: the board authorized staff to draft negotiation objectives, seek stakeholder input and return with a proposed CWA framework and a timeline for negotiations, expected within roughly 60–90 days. The resolution sets direction to negotiate terms — it does not itself impose wage or hiring rules. Trustees said they will seek measurable local-hire goals and apprenticeship commitments as part of any agreement.
Votes at a glance: Resolution to approve negotiation of a Community Workforce Agreement (action item 5.60, amended to include Measure G funds) — Motion: President Flores; Second: Fuentes; Outcome: approved by voice vote. Additional consent and pulled items also passed in the same meeting per the consent calendar and roll-call actions recorded in the minutes.
