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Debate over RIF bumping rules focuses on certification, seniority
Summary
Negotiators discussed combining K–12 for reduction-in-force and using seniority to determine bumping; union asked how 'specials' (art, music, counselors) and long‑term substitutes would be treated.
Negotiators spent a substantial portion of the session on reduction‑in‑force (RIF) rules and bumping rights. Andy proposed treating the district as a single K–12 unit for RIF seniority so the most senior certified teacher would have rights to displace less‑senior staff, while union members sought clarity on how specialized teachers or those who cross grade levels would be categorized.
"If there is any non tenure teacher holding a position for which that tenured teacher is certified for, they will automatically want that non tenure teacher, and and they will keep that job," Andy said while explaining how bumping works under current arbitration practice. Union representatives challenged how the rule would operate for art, music, librarians, counselors and other staff who do not fall into a single grade bucket and asked the negotiators to specify buckets or definitional rules.
Administrators stressed that legal protections for tenured teachers require the district to document fiscal and workload justifications before layoffs and that their role is to ensure procedural compliance. The union requested a clear, shared definition of seniority and suggested the parties prepare concrete examples and a seniority list so individual teachers can see how changes would affect their placement.
Both sides agreed to circulate drafting language and examples to avoid downstream disputes and to follow up with additional material on seniority lists and how mixed‑certification teachers would be handled.
