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Board approves paraeducator reclassification MOU; staff estimate under $800,000 annual cost
Summary
The San Marcos Unified School District board approved a memorandum of understanding with CSEA that creates tiered paraeducator classifications and reclassifications intended to address vacancies and clarify duties. Staff estimated the annual cost at just under $800,000; public commenters urged higher starting pay for ATP paraeducators.
The San Marcos Unified School District Board of Education on Tuesday approved a memorandum of understanding with the California School Employees Association that restructures instructional aide job descriptions into five paraeducator classifications, including specialized tiers for transitional kindergarten, extensive support needs and the adult transition program.
District labor staff said the year‑long bargaining process aimed to modernize outdated job descriptions and better align duties, pay and benefit calculations with neighboring districts. "This restructuring is an investment that addresses vacancies and hard‑to‑fill positions," the staff presenter said, and the MOU has been ratified by CSEA membership.
Staff disclosed the estimated annual cost of the agreement as "just under $800,000," and said that figure has already been included in the 2026–27 adopted budget assumptions. The board moved to approve the memorandum and the motion carried.
During public comment before the action, ATP instructional aides pressed the board to reconsider the salary comparators used to set starting pay for the new ATP paraeducator classification. "The proposed San Marcos Unified starting wage is $1.24 per hour below that average," said Danielle Christensen, an ATP instructional aide, referencing regional comparisons that she said showed starting wages of about $22.16 per hour. Lindsay Kemper asked the board to direct negotiators to reassess the comparison data and to consider a starting rate of $22.14/hour for the ATP classification.
Board members asked staff about the reclassification and reclassification timelines, the share of paraeducators eligible for benefits, and implementation if the board had chosen not to approve the MOU. Staff said the job reclassifications clarify duties and that roughly 25% of general‑education paraeducators and about 75% of special‑education aides currently hold positions that qualify them for full district benefit contributions.
The board approved the MOU by voice vote; the recording shows the motion was made and seconded and the chair declared the motion carries. The district plans to implement the reclassifications and the associated salary ranges effective July 1, 2026, consistent with the disclosure provided at the meeting.
Next steps include onboarding the new job descriptions for recruitment over the summer and carrying the budgeted costs into the district's multi‑year financial planning.
