District explains bargaining process and current contract status; board approved consultant engagement

District staff provided an overview of the collective‑bargaining process, timelines for intent‑to‑bargain filings and the current status of district negotiations.

Staff said an intent to bargain must generally be filed within 60 days of a contract’s expiration under statute, though collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) can include more specific windows. Staff described their approach this year to stagger negotiation starts so certain groups could begin and settle earlier rather than waiting for teacher negotiations to conclude.

Staff reported the current status of bargaining units: the SCEA (teachers) contract expired June 30 and the district and union have met several times; custodial and principal agreements have met multiple times (custodians met seven times, principals six times); nutrition services had not asked to negotiate over the summer; other non‑bargaining terms‑and‑conditions agreements were handled separately and some were completed earlier in the year.

The presenter said the district has been proactive in asking some groups whether they wanted to negotiate in the summer in order to accelerate settlements and get pay adjustments into employees’ paychecks earlier.

Separately at the meeting, the board approved a resolution to engage a professional negotiator to consult on process improvements and potentially to participate in upcoming negotiations. That resolution passed in a roll-call vote: six board members voted yes and one voted no. (The board’s roll call was taken immediately after the motion; the record shows a single dissenting vote.)

Staff said they will continue to schedule meetings with bargaining teams and will report progress to the board as tentative agreements are reached and ratified by union membership.