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Union leaders urge Apple Valley Unified to restore fully funded health benefits, seek wage increases
Summary
At a Feb. 13 special meeting, three union representatives told the Apple Valley Unified School District board that current health and welfare benefits create financial hardship for employees and asked the board to direct administration to negotiate fully funded benefits and cost-of-living raises; the board then met in closed session on labor negotiations and returned with no reportable action.
At a Feb. 13 special meeting, three union representatives urged the Apple Valley Unified School District board to prioritize fully funded health and welfare benefits and to provide wage increases for teachers and classified staff.
Karen Sabers, who identified herself as president of Avooda, said district health coverage has become a financial hardship for many employees. "I have a monthly payment of $1,405.40, a deductible of 2,000, a $30 copay to see my primary doctor, $50 copay to see a specialist," she said, adding that she has delayed or cancelled treatments because of cost. "Fully funded health and welfare benefits are not a privilege. They are a fundamental right," Sabers said.
J.C. Scott, who identified himself as president of chapter 828, said he stood in solidarity with the teachers union and CSEA classified staff and asked the board to direct the administration to provide bargaining units with either the proposals they requested or a generous counteroffer that preserves affordable health coverage and adds cost-of-living adjustments.
Ashleen Drotty, who identified herself as second vice president of CSEA chapter 828, echoed the request for competitive wages and fully funded health care, saying that fair compensation is essential to recruiting and retaining staff and that students ultimately benefit when employees are not struggling to make ends meet.
After public comment, the board announced it would recess into closed session to discuss personnel and labor negotiation items, including meetings with negotiators for the Apple Valley Unified Teachers Association and the California School Employees Association. The board recessed and later returned to open session, after which the Chair stated there was nothing to report from closed session.
The board adopted the meeting agenda earlier in the session by motion and voice approval and later adjourned following brief board comments about school site activities, a probation-related contract revision to be returned for a March meeting, and calendar adjustments for April and May. Staff said the proposed April date change would not interfere with the public hearing and adoption timeline for the June budget and Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).
The board did not announce any follow-up vote or formal public action on bargaining positions during the meeting; staff indicated a contract revision on a separate probation services item will return to the board in March.
