Teachers union asks board to prioritize contract talks as staff layoffs and conditions loom in negotiations

Barbara Paschet Cox, president of the San Bernardino Teachers Association, used the public-comment period to press the board and district leadership to move quickly on contract negotiations after the recent appointment of an assistant superintendent of human resources.

"Working teachers’ working conditions are our students’ learning conditions," Paschet Cox said, asking the district to prioritize bargaining and to demonstrate urgency in reaching a timely, fair agreement. She told the board she spoke for roughly 3,097 bargaining-unit members and urged collaborative actions that reflect respect for educators’ contributions.

Paschet Cox also called attention to non-contract matters in the district — including pay, professional support for school psychologists and community outreach such as a Thanksgiving food drive that the union committed to helping fund — and asked for continuing collaboration between the union and district staff.

Board members responded by thanking the union for partnership and noting that a recent memorandum of understanding for nutrition services staff had been considered during the meeting. The board did not take any immediate public action on SBTA’s request but indicated staff would continue to coordinate with labor representatives.