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Board ratifies three‑year collective bargaining agreement and ratifies salary schedules; vote 4–1
Summary
The board ratified a negotiated collective bargaining agreement covering July 1, 2026–June 30, 2029 and approved the corresponding salary schedule. The contract includes a $1,000 across‑the‑board payment, elimination of comp‑time in favor of pay, inclusion of safety staff in the bargaining unit and waiving a high‑school diploma requirement for custodial hires (with GED support). The board ratified the agreement by roll call, 4–1.
The Grants‑Cibola County Schools board ratified a three‑year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and approved the accompanying salary schedule after presentations from district negotiators and union representatives.
Superintendent Widner and Mrs. Jones summarized the agreement, which runs July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. Key negotiated provisions described to the board included replacing compensatory time with straight pay for overtime; including newly created student safety/security staff in the bargaining unit; adjustments to step spacing in the salary matrix; a one‑time or immediate $1,000 payment to all employees intended to provide proportionally larger boosts to lower‑paid staff; and a waiver of the high‑school diploma requirement for custodial hires with one year to obtain a GED and district support for completion.
Mrs. Jones said the district had weighed options and that the salary adjustments cost the district significantly more than a 1% average increase. Board discussion revisited public concerns raised during prior public comment and the superintendent and counsel clarified that grievances from unit members must follow the union’s internal processes and statutory remedies; the board’s role was to ratify the negotiated contract.
A motion to approve the CBA and ratify the salary schedules carried on roll call. The minutes record the roll call with four affirmative votes and one dissent (Board member Lorenzo voted no). The board accepted the agreement and the salary schedule was entered into the district record for implementation with the next payroll cycle.
