ECE Educators & Allies: Update on ECE Stipend & Delegation
Here’s where things stand currently on the ECE Teacher stipend:
- The $4,250 ECE Teacher Stipend expired in June. SDEA members proposed making it permanent back in February at the bargaining table, but the District has yet to respond. (Here’s SDEA members’ proposal from February – see section 5.03) Tomorrow, September 11, is our first bargaining session since Summer break, but negotiations could still take months.
- The District has agreed to separate side deals on other issues, but not on this stipend. (For example a recent agreement about Evaluations, which improves the system for administrators as well as for educators.) It’s clear that the District does not feel the same urgency as educators do about this stipend, which is a significant pay cut for some of our lowest paid educators.
- Dozens of TK teachers have been signed up to meet with Supt. Bagula, about both the stipend but also about toileting policies, where the District has stalled bargaining. SDEA leaders have requested September dates, but so far Supt. Bagula hasn’t responded. We’ll continue pushing and update you with next steps!
In the meantime, it’s clear that SDEA members need to keep up the pressure. That’s why at your September union meeting, you’ll be talking about a plan for strike readiness. Our students need fully staffed, stable schools… and We Can’t Wait!
