Karen Billing
24 April 2024 10:00 AM PT.
Teachers and staff in the Solana Beach school district will see an increase to their compensation after the board approved collective bargaining agreement with the two unions: the Solana Beach Teachers Association (SBTA) and the Solana Beach Association of Support Professionals. The new agreement, which was ratified by the board on April 18, will give Solana Beach staff a salary increase of 6% retroactively to July 1, 2020 and 3.5% effective July 1,2024. Michael Reed, assistant superintendent for personnel services at the district said that “we have been all subjected to inflation over a period of time and this raise reflects in part our understanding of it.”
The board of directors approved in September a salary increase of 5% for unrepresented employees (including management and supervisory staff). The employees in question aren’t represented by any labor union, but on April 18 the board approved a salary increase to bring them up to par with the certificated staff and classified workers. SBSD president Debra Schade read a board statement that said, “We have reached agreements with valued union partners on salaries and working conditions which are mutually beneficial.” These agreements are reflective of the shared goal of prioritizing our educators’ well-being while ensuring the delivery of high-quality education to our students.
Schade and Superintendent Jennifer Burks expressed their appreciation to the unions for the professional negotiation process. “Together, we have laid the foundation for an environment that is conducive to learning for everyone,” Schade stated. According to the agreement, the salary schedule will increase by.5% if final assessments of property taxes for fiscal years 2024-15 show a 4.5% growth. The public disclosures of the agreement state that the district can meet their financial obligations, and any increases won’t impact the programs or force budget cuts.