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Teachers and classified staff tell Fillmore Unified board workload is unsustainable; unions propose contract changes
Summary
Union representatives and teachers told the board survey results show most teachers regularly work beyond contract hours for meetings and prep; demands included clearer contract language, compensation for out-of-day work, and proposed bargaining articles on AI use and discipline procedures.
Classified and certificated employees raised concerns about workload, compensation and bargaining priorities during the Fillmore Unified School District board meeting on March 17.
Derek Olson, CSEA president, thanked the district for honoring a late employee and previewed classified bargaining proposals, including a technology/AI article intended to set guidelines so tools support rather than replace classified staff and a discipline article to clarify processes. Olson said the union understood medical benefits are costly but emphasized the need for defined negotiation approaches.
"The purpose of this article is not to prevent the use of AI... but to ensure there are clear guidelines so that technology supports classified rather than replacing them," Olson said.
Teachers and their union representatives framed the workload issue with survey data. FUDA representative Jamie Ramos presented results from 88 teacher respondents: about 70% reported IEP, SST and 504 meetings are scheduled often or always outside the contractual workday, and reported extra weekly work hours ranged from 1 to 25 with many answering 5 to 15 hours. Ramos said 63% of respondents called their workload unmanageable and cited examples of teachers waiting unpaid on campus for meetings to begin.
"When teachers say they regularly work beyond their workday, they're not exaggerating," Ramos said.
During public comment several classroom teachers reiterated those concerns. Anna Morielli, speaking on behalf of teachers across the district, said surveys show many teachers work 7 to 20 extra hours per week and urged the board to schedule meetings within contract hours or compensate teachers for professional work performed outside the workday. Heather Milam, a Piru Elementary teacher, also urged the board to evaluate whether continued spending on outside consultants (Solution Tree) is the best use of limited district funds given existing teacher leadership.
Why it matters: Teachers' ability to complete required special-education meetings and grading within contractual time affects staff retention and instructional quality. The board will consider these concerns during upcoming labor negotiations, where CSEA and FUDA both signaled proposals related to compensation, discipline processes and use of technology.
What happens next: Union and teacher comments feed into negotiations; district and union representatives will address articles and contract language in bargaining sessions. The board did not take immediate action on specific contract changes at this meeting.
Provenance: CSEA remarks SEG 327'SEG 381; FUDA report and public comment SEG 387'SEG 446 and SEG 1294'SEG 1456.
