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SUTA presents bargaining priorities, urges 60% classroom compensation
Summary
SUTA representatives told the board they seek a fair three-year contract prioritizing salary (Article 8), benefits (Article 9), time for lesson planning (Article 13), leaves (Article 14), improved working conditions (Article 15), and higher stipends (Appendix B); they cited Ed Code guidance on spending.
Representatives of the Sebastopol Union Teachers Association (SUTA) read a prepared statement at the Jan. 16 meeting detailing bargaining priorities as negotiations approach.
Sarah Broughton, Stacey O’Donnell and Sarah Castaneda said the union seeks a three-year contract that prioritizes students and educators, with specific asks including salary increases (Article 8), improved benefits (Article 9), guaranteed time for lesson planning (Article 13), expanded leave (Article 14), clarified working conditions (Article 15), and higher extracurricular stipends in Appendix B. The statement called for the district to meet the minimum threshold of spending at least 60% of the budget directly on students through classroom compensation, “spending today’s dollars on today’s students,” as the prepared remarks put it.
SUTA framed the request in the context of rising local costs of living and recruitment/retention challenges; the group cited Brook Haven’s Distinguished School award and enrollment gains as evidence of local strengths while urging pay and benefit improvements to sustain quality instruction. The board received the statement as part of the meeting’s reports and information items.
