The Riverbank Unified School District (RUSD) negotiations team continue contract talks with the Riverbank Teachers Association (RTA) but they have yet to secure an agreement. Teachers at various school sites plan to continue picketing for fair compensation before school and after school this week in protest of the current offer on the table.
The district is offering a seven percent increase and a $2,000 dollar increase to the health benefit cap which RUSD Superintendent Christine Facella noted previously was an estimated 8.5 percent total compensation offer. The RTA countered with the COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) of 13.26 percent.
“Hopefully they’ll come up with something,” remarked RUSD Board President Diana Gonzalez. “I can’t say very much about what we discussed in closed session. We are leaving it up to the bargaining units. I’m sure they’ll come to an agreement. We want a good relationship with the teachers.”
Last week at the regular RUSD board meeting, RTA President Richard Beatty addressed the board members requesting a fair settlement that is “competitive and sufficient to attract and retain high quality educators” within the district.
“During the recent contract negotiations, the Riverbank Unified School District shared a table of “similar” districts where Riverbank was ranked in the number one place,” stated Beatty. “We find several issues with this comparison. Firstly, the listed districts are not our actual competition for quality educators, as we are not losing teachers to them. Additionally, the cost of living may not be comparable to Riverbank, making it difficult to accurately assess the level of fair and competitive compensation that our teachers deserve. As we continue to negotiate, we hope to arrive at a more appropriate comparison and compensation package that reflects the unique needs and challenges of our district.”
During public comment, Beatty also expressed concern about the district’s mandate for co-teaching. He noted that there are several questions about the program that need to be addressed and several RTA members have serious concerns.
“We believe that ongoing communication and collaboration between RTA and the district are crucial to finding solutions that benefit everyone involved,” added Beatty. “We remain dedicated to ensuring that our teachers are fairly compensated and that our students receive the best education possible.”
Beatty said that the State of California provided RUSD with a 13.26 percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and they are disappointed in the current offer from the district.
“Many of our educators are facing a rising cost of living and an increased workload due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the implementation of new programs and procedures such as the closure of Special Day Classes and their replacement with Inclusion and Co-teaching. As a result, our teachers are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet and to maintain their high level of dedication to their students. We urge the district to recognize the hard work and dedication of our teachers and to offer a fair and competitive compensation package that reflects their contributions to the district.”
