Board approves CSEA tentative agreement and management schedule; classified leader praises changes, some classified staff express equity concerns

The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District board approved a tentative agreement with the California School Employees Association (CSEA) for the 2025–26 negotiations and subsequently approved compensation adjustments for non‑represented and management employees.

Terms publicized at the hearing included a 2% on‑schedule increase retroactive to July 1 and a 1.4% off‑schedule payment spread among members. The classified chapter president and CSEA negotiators praised both the financial terms and the updates to contract language intended to enhance employee protections.

The board later considered a management salary schedule proposal that would add steps 9 through 12, provide a 1% off‑schedule payment for management and allow step advancement for eligible managers; staff estimated the ongoing cost at about $75,000 (approximately 0.5% of ongoing payroll costs for management). Several classified staff members speaking during public comment urged parity and warned that structural discrepancies between management and classified increases risked morale and trust; some managers and principals spoke in support, saying longevity steps help retain experienced leaders.

Board votes approved the CSEA tentative agreement (6–0), the compensation for non‑represented employees (6–0), and the management schedule (6–0). Staff said these moves aim to balance retention with the district’s broader fiscal stabilization plan amid declining enrollment and rising special‑education costs.