The Pajaro Valley Unified School District and Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers have reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement after 11 months of negotiations.
The agreement reflects efforts to recognize educators’ work while maintaining the district’s financial and instructional stability, according to a joint announcement from the district and union.
“Reaching this agreement required hard work, open dialogue and meaningful compromise from both sides of the table,” Superintendent Heather Contreras said. “We are deeply grateful to PVFT leadership, our educators and our district bargaining team for their perseverance.”
Contreras said the agreement will allow the school community to refocus its attention on supporting students and improving classroom outcomes.
The agreement must be ratified by the union’s membership and approved by the PVUSD Board of Trustees before taking effect.
“This agreement reflects the desires of our membership to maintain our current benefits structure with no changes, puts money on the salary schedule and creates improved working conditions that put students first,” PVFT President Brandon Diniz said.
Diniz thanked the district’s bargaining team and union members who supported the negotiations over the past 11 months.
“We now take this agreement to our members to ratify, and the work of the union continues,” he said.
The district and union did not release details about salary increases or other provisions of the proposed agreement.
PVUSD serves more than 14,000 students.
TOP PHOTO: PVUSD Teachers protest job cuts in front of the Watsonville Public Library in December.