Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Labor Negotiations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
NTA president calls 1.1% proposal "insulting," warns of teacher departures
Summary
Ms. Villa, speaking as Newark Teachers Association president, told the Newark Unified School District board that a proposed 1.1% off-schedule, one-time bonus is unrealistic and "insulting," and warned of at least 10 vacancies if negotiations remain stalled.
Ms. Villa, introduced by the clerk as NTA president, told the Newark Unified School District board on Feb. 4 that the districts offer of a 1.1% off-schedule, one-time bonus is not realistic and risks losing teachers.
"No, that is not realistic. That's not a realistic offer from you guys," Ms. Villa said during public comment, calling the proposal "insulting." She said the current contract framework stemmed from a tentative agreement reached in March 2023 and that teachers had been asked repeatedly to be patient while the board and successive superintendents addressed budget issues.
Ms. Villa said the delay in meaningful progress has consequences: "I have 10 of our NTA members that have said they're by not waiting anymore. 10 vacancies that we're going to have next year because we've been asked to wait again," she said. She urged board members to be prepared to make decisions rather than ask staff and educators for more patience.
The remarks came after the clerks announcement that the board would recess into closed session to discuss labor negotiations. The meeting record shows the labor item listed as 2.2 (conference with labor negotiators) under Government Code section 54957.6.
The board did not take a public vote on compensation during the session; its next public action was a recess into closed session to continue those confidential discussions.
