2020 Negotiations Updates
June 8, 2020
SCTA Successor Contract Update
We are pleased to inform our community that tomorrow, June 9, we will meet with our labor partner, Sacramento City Teachers Association, to resume negotiations on a successor contract. One of the District’s proposals to SCTA proposes changes to health benefit plans to help our district better control the high cost of employee benefits. Employee salaries and benefits costs make up 90 percent of the district’s unrestricted budget. Immediately prior to the negotiation session, the district will provide SCTA with a Budget Presentation about the district’s fiscal status.
It is imperative that we come to an agreement on a new contract, especially as we anticipate increased operating expenses due to COVID-19 and possible budget cuts.
Our community can’t afford one more minute without a new contract.
State Budget Update
While nothing is certain, the California Assembly and Senate leaders have announced a proposed budget that is significantly different from the Governor’s revised budget. This is positive news and means that the advocacy for education funding at the state level has been effective.
However, this budget is dependent on additional federal relief through the federal Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions – or HEROES – Act, requiring additional advocacy on the federal level.
Without federal relief, we can anticipate additional funding shortfalls beyond our current $27 million deficit.
Regardless of whether additional federal aid comes through, in order to close the existing $27 million deficit, we must address the high costs of employee benefits.
According to California State Auditor Elaine Howle and other financial experts, Sac City Unified offers the most generous employee benefits in the Sacramento region, and one of the most expensive benefit packages in the state, at no monthly premium cost to SCTA members.
Some facts about our health benefits
- SCTA members are among only approximately 3 percent of Californians to receive 100 percent employer-funded health benefits for a family plan.
- By comparison, California State employees pay premiums of approximately $213 per month for a single plan and $615 per month per family for a HealthNet HMO Plan.
- While Sac City Unified pays 100 percent of the cost of benefits, other districts statewide cap health benefit contributions at 85 percent for medical, on average.
- This means Sac City Unified pays more out of our budget for benefits than other districts. For a local example, Sac City Unified’s health benefits for teachers cost $13 million more than Elk Grove Unified’s, even though Sac City Unified has 950 fewer teachers.
Our Proposal
Sac City Unified’s proposal is simple and fair. We must prioritize the needs of our students and recognize parity when it comes to teachers’ total compensation in the Sacramento Region. SCTA members receive higher total compensation than teachers in neighboring districts and at the expense of our students. We have already made $30 million in cuts to close the deficit in previous years. We are down to the bare bones.
Our students can’t afford for our district to become insolvent – and a state takeover won’t make these budget challenges go away. Kicking the can down the road is not helpful for our community and something we must address once and for all.
Below are the district’s student-centered contract proposals passed to SCTA between August and December 2019 and reviewed during the only negotiation session held to date on March 3, 2020:
Helps Ensure Fully-Staffed Schools
- Restructures teacher transfer process to allow the district to staff schools quickly
- Simplifies the process to fill vacancies
Maintains Class Size Reductions
- Maintain existing class sizes at all grade levels
- Clarifies timeline for class size adjustment at the beginning of the school year
- Removes limitations that result in students attending school outside their neighborhood school
Improves Special Education and Inclusive Practices
- Provides greater opportunities for the District to employ strategies like inclusive practices and others at schools across the district
- Removes limitations on numbers of students who can be mainstreamed in regular education classes
Ensures Restorative Practices and Reduction of Suspensions
- Protects the learning environment while effectively addressing student behavior issues
- Removes barriers to allow for district-wide implementation of restorative alternatives and practices for all students
- Ensure student suspensions are consistent with Education Code and district policies and regulations that seek to reduce avoidable suspensions
Protects Academics and Gives Parents and Educators More Info to Evaluate Student Progress
- Enhances student learning by aligning evaluation to California Department of Education’s Standards for the Teaching Profession
- Creates consistency for students by clearly defining teachers’ professional duties that support students
- Increases time for professional development and collaboration
Gives our Students Greater Summer Opportunities and Chances to Learn
- Move up start and end date to align with neighboring districts, giving students more opportunities to attend summer college courses, pursue summer employment and benefit from increased learning days before standardized and AP testing
Protects Funding for Students While Maintaining a Competitive Benefits for Teachers
- Sac City Unified will continue to pay 100% of the premium costs of the lowest cost plan cost for SCTA members
- The district will pay 75% of the premium costs for SCTA members’ family plans at the rate equivalent to the lowest cost plan (currently Kaiser)
- Requires part time employees to pay for benefits using a prorated structure
- Increases employee contribution from $20 per month to 2% of employee’s salary to help fund the costs of SCTA members’ health care provided after retirement
June 2, 2020
We are pleased to announce that the district and our labor partner, Sacramento City Teachers Association, will resume successor contract negotiations on June 9, 2020 at 4 p.m.
It’s more important than ever for us to come to agreement. At our May 21 Board of Education meeting, we learned more about our district’s fiscal outlook under the Governor’s May Revised budget. Under the current proposal, Sac City Unified can anticipate a significant revenue decline, and an updated projected deficit of $57 million in the next fiscal year. We must address the district’s unsustainable employee salary and benefit structure, which makes up approximately 90 percent of the district’s unrestricted budget. This has been confirmed by Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), a Policy Analysis for Education (PACE) report, and most recently the California State Auditor.
We believe that SCTA and our district can together find and agree to solutions to our budget challenges, that allow us to continue the shared goal of enhancing educational opportunities for all students.
However, time is of the essence. Each day that passes without agreement pushes us closer to insolvency.
May 19, 2020
These last few weeks have been difficult for our school district, for our community, and for our employees.
Last week’s news that we could expect additional cuts to education as a part of reductions to the state budget came as an especially devastating blow – especially as we are considering the challenge of how we will reopen our schools when it is safe to do so. And it will take funding, resources, and support - something our district was lacking even before this current crisis.
As part of our continued efforts to be transparent and honest about our situation, we must inform you, our community, about our updated fiscal outlook.
Fiscal Challenges
Before our school closure, our district was facing a well-documented $27 million deficit, largely attributable to Sac City Unified’s unsustainable employee benefits structure. This has been confirmed by Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), a Policy Analysis for Education (PACE) report, and most recently the California State Auditor.
Governor Newsom’s announcement of a 10 percent reduction to the Local Control Funding Formula adds an additional layer of concern and moves the timeline that our district could become insolvent much earlier than our initial estimate of late 2021.
Outlook Under a Current State Budget Proposal
At our May 7 Board meeting, our budget team presented scenarios which included a 10 percent LCFF reduction, indicating that such a cut could impact our budget by approximately $50 million, on top of the current $27 million deficit.
You can view a video of this board presentation here.
Facing the Hard Truth
There are tough decisions ahead. Our district has already implemented over $30 million in ongoing budget reductions. There isn’t much left to cut and that is the hard truth.
Learn More About Our Budget
Our team will present the Third Interim Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2019-20 at the May 21, 2020 board meeting. This presentation will give our community detailed information about our budget outlook. At the following meeting on June 18, 2020, we will present a proposed adopted budget, which will include possible program cuts in order for us to best close our well-documented and likely growing deficit.
We will regularly provide our community with updates, presentations, and information on our budget and status of negotiations.
It’s Time to Face Reality
As indicated in audit after audit and by numerous and well-respected experts, including California’s State Auditor, we cannot close this gap without reaching an agreement that addresses the district’s health benefit cost structure.
Our budget situation was dire before this pandemic and is even more so now. Any statement that our budget is improving is separated from reality. We again ask SCTA to meet us at the bargaining table to come to an agreement on their members’ total compensation and benefits – which remain the highest in the region.
The District’s structural deficit is largely due to the District paying 100% of the premiums for all offered healthcare plans, which will include almost $33,700 in 2020-2021 for each of the HealthNet family plans selected by 522 employees. This option will cost the district 40 percent more than other health plans and increased 7 percent over the last fiscal year, yet the benefit continues to be offered at no premium cost to SCTA members.
On Friday, we sent another letter to SCTA asking that we resume negotiations, which we first attempted to initiate in November of 2018.
Our students cannot afford for us to wait even one more minute. It’s time to come to the table.
We have provided SCTA with all they need, it’s time to come to the table and save our district.
May 14, 2020
We previously reached an initial agreement with SEIU and are now pleased to announce that we have also reached initial agreements with Teamsters, Local 150 and Teamsters Classified Supervisors (TCS) regarding the impacts of COVID-19.
The agreements identify protections that employees receive as we all work through the impacts of this pandemic. These include essentials such as appropriate leave options and personal protective equipment as outlined by CalOSHA. Additionally, the agreements provide for flexibility in current collective bargaining timelines and offers a way for SEIU, Teamsters and TCS members to complete mandated trainings if they have not already done so.
We appreciate the collaborative efforts of these bargaining groups and the hard work of employees who are assisting in serving meals to students, keeping facilities disinfected on a daily basis, supporting distance learning and maintaining the day to day operations of the District. We look forward to future collaborations as we continue to work on other negotiable items.
April 20, 2020
Facing a possible recession: our kids need us to start negotiations more than ever
As we continue to address the COVID-19 crisis and continue to work to meet our students’ needs, we know that we must also remain focused on our district’s financial health. In fact, the economic toll caused by the current crisis means that we need to address our budget challenges now more than ever. When it comes to protecting our children’s future, we can no longer disregard the challenges we face based on how our budget is structured.
That is why on April 17 our district again invited the Sacramento City Teachers’ Association to schedule our next negotiation session on the union’s contract which expired on June 30, 2019. You can view the letter we sent SCTA inviting them to negotiate here. This is the second invitation that the district has extended to SCTA after they requested a budget presentation at the first negotiations session which took place on March 3, 2020. Unfortunately, SCTA did not respond to the first invitation by the district on March 24.
In the most recent letter, the district urges SCTA to reconvene negotiations to address one of the district’s highest expenditures: employee benefits. Our district is already anticipating significant increases to next year’s healthcare plan rates.
On top of that, many economists project the global pandemic will accelerate a recession, substantially reducing state revenues and making negotiations of SCTA’s successor contract even more vital. In a letter sent to the district by the Sacramento County Office of Education on April 15, 2020, County Superintendent Dave Gordon also reiterated the importance of negotiating a new contract in light of the expected fiscal impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
“Our district was already facing significant budget challenges before the unprecedented health crisis that we find ourselves grappling with now. That is why – even during this difficult time – we’re asking our labor partners to sit with us at the table to continue negotiations on the high costs of our employee benefits and other critical issues before our district,” said Sac City Unified Superintendent Jorge Aguilar. “We know our financial challenges won’t go away without compromise – even in the face of a crisis. Whatever challenges we face, we remain focused on what’s most important: meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of our children. Our children’s needs should always come first.”
The District offered to hold a budget presentation and negotiations session with SCTA for Friday, May 1st at 4 p.m., Tuesday, May 5th at 4 p.m., or Wednesday, May 6th at 4 p.m. We will continue to update our community on this important matter.
April 9, 2020
We recognize the mental toll that the coronavirus pandemic has taken on students, families, and employees as they anxiously await details that will shape our distance learning plans. We understand the stress felt by parents trying to adapt to homeschool, students coping with the disappointment of missing major milestones like graduations, and teachers worrying that their most vulnerable students’ basic needs are met. There is an urgent need to take action as every day of lost learning will have lasting impacts on the academic and social-emotional well-being of our students.
Our schools have now been closed for three weeks and our schools will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. During this period of time, we know that some students have been contacted by their teachers and have received enrichment activities, while others have not. This is particularly concerning for students with special needs, homeless students, socio-economically disadvantaged students, ELL students, and students who are below grade level in core content areas. In Sac City Unified, 72% of our District’s students are low-income, English Learners, or in foster care and are likely to suffer the most from inaction. Therefore, it is important to begin distance learning and instruction as soon as possible, especially because not all of our families are able to compensate for the impacts on student learning loss during our school closures.
Since March 16, Sac City Unified met with SCTA leaders on 14 separate days in an attempt to come to a student-centered agreement.
Please view the correspondence to SCTA from Sac City Unified informing the union of this decision.
Does this mean that discussions with SCTA are over?
No. The district will continue to meet and negotiate in good faith with SCTA leaders regarding the negotiable effects of our distance learning plan.
Why wouldn’t Sac City Unified agree to the Governor’s “Framework Agreement”?
We appreciate the “Framework Agreement” and view it for what it is, a framework, not a document intended to serve as a binding document or as a condition to implementing distance learning plans. The district and SCTA have faced significant disagreements over ambiguities contained in past framework agreements and, given the fact that we already know SCTA interprets aspects of this Framework differently than the district, we cannot agree to it
Why couldn’t you come to an agreement with SCTA or just allow them to move forward with their proposal?
Because our students cannot wait another minute for learning opportunities to begin. Since our school closure began, we know that some students have been contacted by their teachers and have received enrichment activities during this time, while others have not. This is particularly concerning for students with special needs, homeless students, socio-economically disadvantaged students, ELL students, and students who are below grade level in core content areas. Our plan is focused on providing essential standards to our students which serve as the building blocks that our students need to reach grade level proficiency. Our plan also includes flexibility that allows students and teachers to schedule learning at the time that is best for them but also calls for regular communications with our families. Finally, our plan allows for instruction to be conducted online, by conference calls, phone, textbooks, other school materials, and assigned work. Therefore, it is important to begin distance learning and instruction as soon as possible.
In addition, a recent poll from Ed Trust West shows that parents are deeply concerned about their children falling behind academically as a result of school closures – especially among low-income, Latinx and Black parents. The study “reveals that the crisis is exacerbating longstanding education equity challenges, including inequitable access to technology, academic support, and resources for students of color and students from lower-income communities.”
Sac City Unified will continue to be guided by the following North Star: we work for our students. The work we put in today to ensure that high quality instruction is taught to our students will set the foundation for us to continue meeting the needs of our students when they come back to school. We will continue to do everything in our power to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of our students as well as support their families during these difficult times.
April 7, 2020
Please view the recent correspondence from Sac City Unified to the Sacramento City Teachers Association regarding negotiations of a distance learning plan.
April 6, 2020
We are pleased to share that we have reached a vital agreement with the United Professional Educators (UPE) outlining the role of principals in distance learning during the period of school closures.
The student-centered agreement includes a commitment by Sac City Unified principals to:
- Complete training on the District’s formal distance learning plan, Universal Design for Learning
- Participate in professional development on the Districts’ preferred online instructional platform, Google Classroom
- Continue to provide leadership regarding distance learning during the period of school closure
Our Next Step
Our plan is to begin implementing a student-centered formal distance learning program on April 13. The District looks forward to continued discussions with our labor partners to successfully develop and implement our distance learning plan during this period of school closures.
We will also continue distributing computers to students in need of digital access during the school closures. On April 3, the District deployed approximately 3,500 laptops to students throughout the District. We will deploy additional laptops during the week of our scheduled Spring Break in order to meet the needs of students by April 13.
This agreement with UPE is consistent with the orders from the Governor (link to March 13 Exec. Order; March 19 Order/Guidance) and direction from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide Essential Educational Services. It is also consistent with corresponding CDE-issued guidance to help K-12 education leaders meet the needs of all students affected by school closures, with an emphasis on assisting low-income children and those with disabilities.
Protecting Equity in Distance Learning
We are grateful for the efforts of our educators who continue communicating with their students to provide learning resources and ongoing support. Implementing a distance learning plan that serves all Sac City Unified students remains our focus in these critical negotiations over the coming days.
This agreement moves us another step forward in our plan to provide comprehensive and equitable learning opportunities for all students.
Please know that we are working internally, regionally, and beyond to determine how best to implement the various directives and guidelines related to ensuring distance learning opportunities meeting the needs of all students.
Available Online Resources
There are many free resources that can support student learning and student and family well-being during this public health crisis.
Free Learning Resources – Learning and physical activities for students and additional educational information for parents/guardians.
Utilities and Internet Services – Free and low-cost Internet services; links to free transit services and assistance with utility bills and rent.
Student Nutrition Program – free meals for students provided Monday – Friday.
Additional Food and Supplies – Free food closets and free fresh produce.
Health Resources – Free clinics, foster youth supports and mental health services.
Additional Resources – Legal assistance, childcare for essential workers, community childcare, Dreamer/DACA information and multi-service community agencies.
Recursos en español:
www.televisioneducativa.gob.mx
www.conaliteg.sep.gob.mx/index.html
April 4, 2020
Please view the recent correspondence from Sac City Unified to the Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) regarding negotiations of a distance learning plan.
March 30, 2020
We are pleased to share that we have reached an agreement with the Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) for the second step of our distance learning plan during the period of school closures.
The second step of our plan includes:
- Computers for teachers who need them to provide distance learning instruction
- Training for teachers on distance learning
Our Next Step
Our plan is to begin a district-wide formal distance learning program on April 13. The District looks forward to continuing our discussions with SCTA to continue developing and implementing our distance learning plan during this period of school closures.
This would include setting expectations for distance learning as well as the responsibilities of other key non-classroom certificated employees, including counselors, social workers, nurses, school psychologists, training specialists, librarians, program specialists, resource teachers, and language, speech and hearing specialists. Again, we remain hopeful that our students can begin a district-wide distance learning program by April 13.
This agreement is consistent with the orders from the Governor (link to March 13 Exec. Order; March 19 Order/Guidance) and direction from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide Essential Educational Services. It is also consistent with corresponding CDE-issued guidance to help K-12 education leaders meet the needs of all students affected by school closures, with an emphasis on assisting low-income children and those with disabilities.
Protecting Equity in Distance Learning
We are grateful for the efforts of our teachers who continue communicating with their students to provide learning resources and ongoing support. Implementing a distance learning plan that serves all Sac City Unified students remains our focus in these critical negotiations with SCTA over the coming days.
This agreement moves us another step forward in our plan to provide comprehensive and equitable learning opportunities for all students.
Please know that we are working internally, regionally, and beyond to determine how best to implement the various directives and guidelines related to distance learning opportunities.
Available Online Resources
There are many free resources that can support student learning and student and family well-being during this public health crisis.
Free Learning Resources – Learning and physical activities for students and additional educational information for parents/guardians.
Utilities and Internet Services – Free and low-cost Internet services; links to free transit services and assistance with utility bills and rent.
Student Nutrition Program – free meals for students provided Monday - Friday.
Additional Food and Supplies – Free food closets and free fresh produce.
Health Resources – Free clinics, foster youth supports and mental health services.
Additional Resources – Legal assistance, childcare for essential workers, community childcare, Dreamer/DACA information and multi-service community agencies.
Recursos en español:
www.televisioneducativa.gob.mx
www.conaliteg.sep.gob.mx/index.html
March 20, 2020
We are pleased to share that we have reached agreements with the United Professional Educators (UPE) and the Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) for the first phase of our distance learning plan during the period of school closures, which includes reaching out to families for a comprehensive student needs assessment. This agreement was reached following the District’s initial proposal to SCTA regarding the first phase as we move toward implementing the District’s distance learning plan, and after a number of counter-proposals between the parties. This agreement is consistent with the orders from the Governor (link to March 13 Exec. Order; March 19 Order/Guidance) and direction from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide Essential Educational Services. It is also consistent with corresponding CDE-issued guidance to help K-12 education leaders meet the needs of all students affected by school closures, with an emphasis on assisting low-income children and those with disabilities, including distance learning and independent study and accommodations for students with disabilities.
We know and appreciate that many staff members have been communicating with their students and families to provide various educational resources to use during these extraordinary circumstances. This agreement is an initial step toward developing and providing comprehensive and equitable learning opportunities for all students. Checking in with our students and families to uniformly evaluate the needs of their student sets the foundation for us to provide an effective distance learning plan during our closure. The District looks forward to continuing our discussions with labor partners to develop and implement the next phases of a distance learning plan during this period of school closures.
Please know that we are working internally, regionally, and beyond to determine how best to implement the various directives and guidelines related to distance learning opportunities. In the meantime, we will continue to expand our online enrichment resources to support our students and encourage activities that reinforce learning.
March 3, 2020
The District is looking forward to commencing negotiations with the Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) on a successor collective bargaining agreement this afternoon at SCTA headquarters! As the District prepares for today’s negotiations session, we are also pleased to share this document to provide background and context about the District’s budget and the goals that the District has for the negotiations session with SCTA as well as an overview of the District’s key proposals.
Additionally, as a courtesy and in response to requests from community members, we are pleased to share who is serving on the District’s Negotiations team, information which was communicated to SCTA yesterday.
We anticipate today’s meeting will be the first of a number of meetings between the District and SCTA negotiations teams who will discuss proposals, have questions about such proposals and provide counter-proposals.
We are excited to begin the negotiations process and will continue to update you on these matters. For more information, please visit our negotiations updates page.
February 06, 2020
We are pleased to inform you that the District today sent SCTA a letter confirming its intent to meet on March 3, 2020, to begin negotiations on a successor contract. The District also proposed numerous additional dates for negotiations as well as extended times for the negotiations sessions.
We are excited to begin the negotiations process and will continue to update you on these matters. For more information, please visit our negotiations updates page.
Thank you.
January 22, 2020
We are pleased to inform you that while awaiting a determination from the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) on the District’s request for impasse, the District received a letter on January 17 from the Sacramento City Teachers Association offering to commence negotiations in March 2020.
Today, the District responded with a letter proposing to begin “around the clock” negotiations in February. The District also accepted SCTA’s proposed March dates should they continue to be necessary at that time.
We are excited to begin the negotiations process and will continue to update you on these matters. For more information, please visit our negotiations updates page.
Thank you.
January 13, 2020
On December 20, 2019 we informed you that after sending 17 letters and offering 63 dates inviting leaders of the Sacramento City Teachers Association to engage in negotiations, the District requested to the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) that impasse be declared and the parties be assigned a state mediator. Because PERB did not certify an impasse on December 20th, we again today, January 13, 2020, requested that PERB certify an impasse after now having sent 18 letters and offering 71 dates to begin negotiations.
As the recent State Audit Report outlined, a bargaining impasse occurs when two sides are unable to reach an agreement and cannot find resolution. In order to keep the State Auditor informed of the District’s efforts to move the process of negotiations forward, the District also today provided an update to the State Auditor focused on our efforts to implement its recommendations that require negotiated solutions.
The District will continue to update you on the latest information related to negotiations. For more, or to read past negotiations updates, please visit our negotiations updates page. Thank you.