• About SDEA
  • History of SDEA
  • Member Officers
  • Association Representatives
  • Staff
  • Union Affiliates
  • SDEA Elections
• Membership
  • Member Benefits
  • New Teacher Resources
  • Visiting Teachers
  • Forms
  • Scholarships
• Organizing
  • Organizing and the Grievance Process
  • Bargaining Updates
• Our Rights At Work
  • Our Union Contract
  • Know Your Rights!
• Blogs
• SDEA-Retired

97% Vote to Ratify New Contract

Posted on Mar 13, 2010

Ratification Vote Results

After nearly two years of bargaining, organizing, and working together to make our voices heard, SDEA members have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a fair contract with SDUSD. With over 45% of SDEA members voting, the final tally was 3,062 voting yes and 108 voting no. With a 97% approval, the vote demonstrates a strong foundation for the upcoming years.

This contract demonstrates that, even in tough economic times, districts and unions can find solutions which protect students, parents and our entire community. Together we are stronger!

“Educators are continuing our practice of supporting public education from our own pockets,” said SDEA Vice President and Bargaining Chair Marc Capitelli. “We have once again protected our students during these catastrophic economic times. But we also recognize that this practice of cutting state support cannot continue at the expense of our students and our own families. We will now refocus our efforts on pushing the state to live up to its responsibility to fully fund a well-rounded education for every student.”

The major features of new contract include:

• Five furlough days in the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years.
• Reinstatement of all furlough days in 2012-2013, plus additional increases of 2%, 2% and 3% spread over the course of the 2012-13 school year.
• An agreement to cut healthcare costs by increasing co-pays and other minor healthcare changes.
• Contingency language guaranteeing that improvements to the District’s fiscal circumstances would cancel the furlough days or restore compensation to members.
• Improved class size protections at the elementary and secondary levels.
• Protections for nursing and counseling staffing levels.
• Protections for educators who retire during the next two school years.
• Other no-cost contract improvements. Visit the bargaining updates page for the full text of the agreement.

SDEA’s Proposed Furlough Dates Approved by SDUSD

Negotiators from SDEA and SDUSD met Friday morning, March 12, to finalize the calendar of furlough days for the 2010-11 school year. SDEA’s team came prepared with extensive input from members and site representatives. Based on the overwhelming preference indicated by members, the days selected are as follows:

• Traditional Calendar: June 14-17, and June 20, 2011 (ending the school year one week early).
• Year-Round Calendar: April 27-29, 2011 (extending spring intersession); June 17 and 20, 2011 (creating a four-day weekend after the testing window).
• CDCs: November 22-24, 2010 (giving members Thanksgiving week off), June 17 and June 20  (creating a four-day weekend). NOTE: State restrictions which require CDCs to remain open a set number of days may result in a change of dates for CDCs—we will keep members posted if these dates change.

ALL MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE: Effective the 2010-11 school year, Spring Break is set an equal distance between winter and summer breaks, and is not attached to the Easter holiday. Members who observe religious holidays during this or any other time of the school year are advised to check Article 10.3.5 of the contract for religious holiday leave rights.