Cloverdale educators urge board to settle contracts as turnover and morale worsen

Anna Ramirez, a seventh-year Cloverdale Unified teacher and parent, told the school board on Oct. 8 that the district is entering its second year without a negotiated contract and that rising staff turnover is harming students. “In over 20 years of teaching, I have never finished a school year without a negotiated contract,” she said, adding that turnover “directly impacts students.”

Several other staff and union representatives echoed Ramirez’s plea during the public-comment period. Jen Craig, speaking for classified employees, read a CSEA letter outlining classified staff duties and asking the board to “see us” and make contract resolution a top priority. “We are the infrastructure of the district,” she said, listing cafeteria workers, paraprofessionals, custodians, bus drivers and others and urging the board to recognize their value.

Paraeducator Jim Burn, who said he began working in the district in 1985, said an expected longevity pay bump was not honored in his contract and described feeling “absolutely zero respect from this district and zero respect from the superintendent.” Longtime teacher Leanne Henry and a newer teacher from Washington Middle School described declining morale, heavy workloads and a lack of prep time that they said make it harder to do quality work for students.

Carlos Jimenez, president of CSEA Local 170, read a letter asking the board to resolve the classified contract, noting classified staff have worked without a contract for two years and have not received wage increases or language changes. Jimenez also questioned a recent pay “step” for the superintendent and said the combination of contract stagnation and leadership pay decisions sends a troubling message to staff.

Board members and staff responded to questions about the superintendent’s compensation by clarifying that the district granted a step increase as part of contractual progression for that role and discussed how that differs from an ad hoc or extra raise. Mary Beth Kelly of the teachers’ association (TAC) told the board the district closed the year with roughly $1.2 million in unrestricted funds and a reserve at or above the 5% level required by state guidance; she urged reallocating priorities to support educators, arguing that strong teachers are the single best predictor of student outcomes.

The board did not take action on any contract at the meeting. Board members have said negotiations are ongoing. The meeting record shows the board discussed personnel matters in closed session and later reported a separate closed-session decision to retain Superintendent Glenn Sinestro for three years, with contract details still under negotiation.