School Board Preview: Contract Negotiations Continue

The Poway Unified School District Board of Education is set to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the district office, 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego.

The agenda includes countering contract proposals from the Poway School Employees Association (PSEA), the employee union for non-teachers such as office clerks, and the district. The union's proposal is not being voted on at this meeting. Over the summer, the two sides came to an agreement on a one-year contract that expires June 30. That one-year deal included eight fewer paid working days for the employees, resulting in a 4 percent salary reduction. In the new proposals, the union is asking for those days and the corresponding salary to be restored while the district is asking that the cuts be continued. The eight "rollback" days were expected to save the district more than $1 million during the current school year.

Other employee groups also took the cut for the 2010-11 school year, but PSEA—which remained in negotiations with the district throughout the year—did not. District officials anticipated that this disparity could be an issue for the other unions during the next round of negotiations this year.

Other points from PSEA's proposed contract (agenda item B-5), which would run from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2014 with salary and benefits reopeners in each school year:

• Include leap day as a paid holiday.
• Increase vacation from 10 to 15 days per year for employees in their first through third year of service.
• Add two steps to the salary schedule beginning July 1, 2013.

From the district's proposal:

• The agreement would last from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2015.
• Employees could be granted up to three days to look for another job if they've been notified of a layoff "which would eliminate or reduce the employees current District dollar contribution for Health and Welfare Benefits under 8.2.1."
• Salary and benefits reopeners in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and up to two other articles mutually agreed upon.

Other items on the agenda:

-2010 California Healthy Kids Survey results, focusing on student alcohol and drug abuse.

-2011-12 Annual Service Plan and Annual Budget Plan for the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA).

-2012-13 year-round student attendance calendars for Abraxas High School and Valley Elementary School.