North Wasco board ratifies staff contracts, approves salary increases after multiple votes

The North Wasco County SD 21 board ratified several bargaining agreements and approved related salary increases during its Jan. 22 meeting.

Superintendent Carolyn Bernal outlined the agreements that staff had negotiated. "We have come to agreement for a collective bargaining agreement with our North Wasco education support professionals for both the 25–26 and 26–27 school year," Bernal said. The support-professional agreement includes a 2.5% increase for 2025–26 and a second-year adjustment tied to the All Urban Consumers West Region CPI-U (BLS) or 2%, whichever is greater.

The board then moved through a series of motions. The consent agenda (minutes, personnel report and policy changes) was approved by voice vote. The board approved spring 2026 cooperative athletic agreements with Dufour for baseball, softball and boys volleyball after confirming league approval would be secured for the new volleyball co-op.

On collective bargaining, the board accepted and ratified the North Wasco Education Support Professionals agreement and the D21 Education Association agreement, which included a 1% increase for 2025–26 and a CPI-U/2% provision for 2026–27. The board also approved extending the same salary increases to confidential and nonrepresented employee groups.

For one item, the motion to grant nonrepresented management the same increases as the D21 Education Association produced recorded opposition. The chair announced that the vote on item d passed, with a tally recorded in the meeting as 5–2 (five in favor, two opposed). The meeting transcript shows motions and seconders for each action and concluding statements of "Motion passes" or similar for each item.

Board members offered brief comments of appreciation to bargaining teams and staff. Union and staff representatives who attended said the ratifications reflected hard work across bargaining tables and that both sides had invested significant time in the negotiations.

The board did not attach further conditions to the ratifications; timing and implementation of salary increases were described as effective in the coming 2025–26 and 2026–27 pay cycles per the agreements presented.

The board's financial and staffing reports preceding the votes noted that the district had an $11.7 million ending fund balance as of December and that the budget would be monitored in May/June for possible resolution adjustments.