ROWLAND USD AND TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION REACH
TENTATIVE AGREEMENT TO END IMPASSE
ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA – July 10, 2014 – The Rowland Unified School District Board of Education announced today that a comprehensive three (3) year (2013-2016) Tentative Agreement was reached at approximately 8:15 p. m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 by the RUSD and Association of Rowland Educators (ARE) negotiation teams after meeting with the State-Appointed Mediator for a fourth mediation session. As a result, there will be no formal negotiations during the 2014-2015 school year and only limited negotiations during the 2015-2016 school year.
RUSD Board President Heidi L. Gallegos observed, “The tentative agreement reached clearly recognizes the dedicated work of our Rowland teachers while leaving the District in a solid financial position for the future. I would like to acknowledge the hard work done on both sides of the aisle by our bargaining teams.”
Highlights of the Tentative Agreement include: multi-year agreement (2013-2016); salary increase of 4%, retroactive to July 1, 2013; Salary Increase of 4%, effective July 1, 2014; District’s maximum contribution to employee health and welfare benefits increased to $11,000, effective January 1, 2015; $1,500 cash-in-lieu payment for eligible employees who elect to opt out of District health and welfare benefits coverage; late start to continue at high schools for 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years; and reduced counselor ratios.
ARE President Shay Lohman stated, "The Association is pleased that after a very long struggle that a fair agreement has been reached and can be sent to membership for a vote. We are very grateful for the leadership provided recently by interim Superintendent Dr. Roach and we are excited about the possibilities that lay ahead for RUSD."
The Tentative Agreement will be presented to ARE members for ratification within the next 2-3 weeks. After ratification by ARE members, the Tentative Agreement will be presented to the District’s Governing Board at its’ August 12, 2014 meeting. As part of the District’s review process, the economic provisions of the Tentative Agreement will also be shared with the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
Each team vowed to work diligently to implement the terms of the agreement once the Tentative Agreement is ratified/approved by all parties.
“I am thrilled that the teams reached an agreement yesterday,” said Interim Superintendent, John Roach. “The school year will begin with all employees focused on meeting the needs of our students.”
Bargaining team members for the School District were: Ajay Mohindra, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services; Melissa Neal, Director Pupil Services; Jason Gass, Principal Killian; Sergio Canal, Principal Nogales High School; and Douglas Staine, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.
ARE negotiation team members were: Eileen Fetters, Executive Director of ARE; John Petersen, Teacher Rowland High School; Clare Ruesga, Teacher Rowland High School; Gilbert Navarro, Teacher Oswalt Academy; Sharyn Sigler, Teacher Oswalt Academy; and Yvonne Martini, Teacher Hollingworth Elementary.