WATSONVILLE — The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday will consider a tentative agreement between the district and its teachers, a decision that could end 17 months of tense negotiations.
More than 85 percent of teachers ratified the agreement during a voting period that began Wednesday and ended Friday.
The agreement provides a 7 percent salary increase for 2016-2019 for K-12 teachers, and a 13 percent over 3 years for early childhood and adult education teachers. There is also a 2 percent bonus for 2016-2017.
Teachers also agreed to permanently increase the work year by 2 days. Prescriptions and co- pays will be minimally increased starting Oct. 1.
A total of 952 members of Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers voted in the ratification process. The contract received 132 no votes, and 8 were declared invalid.
“This agreement provides our members not only increased compensation, but stronger language in a number of contract articles including Workload and Hours, Retirement, Transfers and Reassignments, and Leaves. The strong turnout of our membership to ratify this agreement demonstrates the power of our workforce,” said PVFT Chief Negotiator Nelly Vaquera Boggs.
•••
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Watsonville City Council Chambers at 275 Main Street. For information, visit www.pvusd.net or pvft.net.
