District unions urge board to address staff pay and safety concerns as school year begins

Representatives of the district’s licensed and classified unions urged the board to prioritize staff compensation and safety at the Sept. 26 meeting.

Sonya Schatz, president of the North Wasco ESPs (classified staff), and Jody Ketchum, president of the D21 Education Association (licensed staff), described positive start-of-year moments but warned that pay and collective bargaining have not kept pace with inflation. They said staff are doing more work for less pay, urged the board to take a long look at the district budget and signaled the unions will press for adjustments this year.

Both union leaders flagged safety as the top concern, reporting increased incidents of violent behavior in schools. They said members are documenting and reporting incidents and asked the district to study strategies other districts have used to improve safety.

The unions requested collaboration with district leadership on budget adjustments and safety proposals; they closed by asking the board to prioritize staff and student safety in upcoming discussions.