Mill Valley teacher contract negotiations stall

Contract talks for teachers in the Mill Valley School District have broken off, with no new negotiations scheduled, the union said.

The last negotiating session ended with no tentative agreement Friday after more than six hours of discussions, according to the Mill Valley Teachers Association.

“MVSD’s bargaining team walked away from the table late Friday night, refusing to offer any further counterproposals, leaving the MVTA bargaining team alone in the bargaining room,” Erin Frazier, the union co-president, said in a statement late Monday.

“Educators are negotiating elementary prep time, staff meeting frequency and duration, duty-free lunch and a salary increase for the 2023-2024 school year,” Frazier said.

Michele Crncich Hodge, president of the district’s board of trustees, disputed the union statement that the bargaining team “walked away.” She said the district team perceived the session was over when the union leaders did not present any new options about items that were under discussion, such as staff meeting schedules and coverage of students during lunch periods.

“The district representatives communicated that it was open to receiving additional options from MVTA leaders,” Hodge said in an email Tuesday. “Unfortunately, when it became apparent MVTA leaders would not provide any new options, negotiations were concluded.”

The district’s legal counsel sent a note to the union Tuesday offering to schedule another negotiation session soon “if MVTA leaders have any new options to share,” Hodge added.

“As of this time, we have not received a response,” she said.

Frazier said the lack of a tentative agreement could trigger an impasse declaration in the fall. If that happens, the union would likely set a strike authorization vote.

“The district is digging in their heels and refusing to negotiate and formally declare impasse,” Frazier said. “Educators, parents and students deserve to end the school year knowing a contract is in place for the next school year.”

Union leaders are “afraid we are going to lose some of our best educators over the summer, as neighboring school districts have new contracts with better terms,” Frazier added.

“Sadly, MVSD seems uninterested in reaching an agreement, pushing MVTA to file for impasse and begin a strike vote authorization in the fall,” Frazier said.

According to Hodge, the district is not pushing the issue off to the fall and there is interest in continuing to negotiate.

“If the state Public Employment Relations Board determines that an impasse exists, the mediation process can begin as soon as a mediator is appointed and the parties are available,” Hodge said, relaying advice she received from the district’s legal counsel on Tuesday.

“Short answer, if impasse is determined this week, mediation can begin now,” she said.

Hodge said she and the rest of the trustees “hold the unwavering belief that together, we will develop an agreement that provides for increased compensation without compromising our strong fiscal health.”

“We also hold a belief that we can craft contract terms that are student-focused while maintaining a collaborative structure consistent with the district’s values,” she said.

The district’s bargaining team, in a letter to parents Monday, said its latest salary offer before the talks ended Friday was for 10% pay increases for 2023-24 and 3.5% pay hikes in 2024-25.

According to the district, the union asked for a 10% increase next year and 6% in 2024-25.

“The above offer also includes the district continuing to cover 100% of the medical, dental, and vision premium increases for employees and employees+1 over the next two fiscal years for 2023-24 and 2024-25,” the district said.

“Even though our benefit costs are expected to increase 8.1% next year, we will maintain the highest level of benefits among all the districts in Marin,” the district said.

In the memo to parents, district officials disputed the union’s assertion that neighboring districts were settling pay contracts at higher rates than Mill Valley for 2023-24.

The memo listed a Mill Valley starting teacher’s salary, including the proposed 10% hike, at $71,476 for 2023-24. The district compared that to $70,311 in the Ross School District; $68,822 in the Reed Union School District; $66,498 in the Miller Creek School District; $64,139 in the Shoreline Unified School District; and $62,766 in the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District.

“If the district’s salary offer goes any higher, we would have to consider cuts to student programs, such as our targeted learning labs, increases to class size, layoffs,” the memo said. “And the district would be unable to launch and fund new programs, such as Spanish and STEAM classes.”

The memo adds that even the latest offer could result in “a downgrading of our Measure G bond program,” which would result in the “loss of millions of dollars and jeopardize our middle school rebuild.”

District residents voted last year to approve Measure G, a $194 million bond measure earmarked to finance the restoration and upgrading of the middle school and to make other improvements.