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Board ratifies multiple labor agreements; trustee objects over how differential pay affects teacher step progression
Summary
Trustees approved several tentative agreements for classified and certificated units and the management association. One trustee voted against the teachers’ tentative agreement, arguing district practice and contract language exclude differential pay from counting toward paid status for step advancement, which she said penalizes teachers on leave.
The Chico Unified board approved multiple tentative agreements with district bargaining units during Monday’s meeting, including the California School Employees Association (CSEA) chapter agreement and a tentative agreement with the Chico Unified Teachers Association (CUTA). Management agreements and other personnel actions were also ratified.
John Shepard and other district negotiators described the bargaining history and recommended ratification. For CSEA, the presented one‑year agreement included a compensation increase estimate described by staff; the board moved and approved the items per the agenda.
During the teachers’ tentative agreement discussion, a trustee voiced a detailed objection and said she would vote against ratifying the CUTA agreement. The trustee argued the contract and current district practice do not treat differential pay (the difference a teacher pays when on unpaid leave and a substitute’s lower pay) as "paid status" when calculating the 75% paid‑status threshold used for step progression. She described adverse consequences for teachers who take maternity or other leaves: lost pay, pension impacts and lost step advancement even though district budgets include the step changes in position-control numbers.
The trustee urged district leadership and the union to add contract language to count differential pay toward paid status so that teachers on leave are not doubly penalized. "Differential pay is pay. And it should count towards paid status," the trustee said.
The board took roll and voice votes on several personnel items. For most bargaining unit agreements the board approved the tentative agreements. The meeting transcript shows at least one recorded 'no' vote on the teachers’ agreement by the trustee who explained her position; other trustees voted to approve the items.
What this means: The approved agreements will move forward as negotiated; the dissenting trustee asked the board and bargaining partners to reopen or address the specific differential‑pay language in future negotiations. The district signaled it will continue collaborative bargaining and review contract language in subsequent cycles.
The meeting record does not show the board directing immediate renegotiation on differential-pay language; the trustee who opposed the agreement urged the board to "get this taken care of" in upcoming bargaining.
