Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1527898
MENLO PARK/ATHERTON: Las Lomitas Educators authorize strike Las Lomitas Education Association (LLEA) members overwhelmingly authorized a strike, as they demand a contract that puts students first. LLEA members have been working without a contract since July 2023 and have been at a complete standstill due to district management's failure to show they value and respect educators. This year alone, LLESD lost 11 teachers — more than 11% of educators in the district. The gap in compensation continues to widen between LLESD and neighboring districts. LLEA members are now the lowest paid compared to nearby districts, forcing unprecedented turnover rates for this community. "It's about time district management reprioritizes educators instead of focusing resources on newly created administrative positions, salary increases for top administrators and administrative luxury retreats," said LLEA Co-President Daniella Lefer. "Management should be working with us to identify what is needed for our students, rather than investing in non-student-facing programs and initiatives, added LLEA Co-President Jennifer Montalvo. "As educators, we don't want to strike, but we will if it means putting students first." KENTFIELD TEACHERS: Educators organize and win landmark contract After months of negotiating, a declaration of impasse and several sessions with a state mediator, Kentfield Teachers Association (KTA) members won a landmark agreement. The new agreement provides a 5% pay increase retroactive to July 1, and 4% for the 2025–2026 school year. "We want the best and brightest educators to join our Kentfield family and continue to teach (here)," said KTA Bargaining Team Chair Andrea Livengood. "KTA educators had the seventh lowest starting salary out of 17 school districts in Marin County. With this new contract, KTA educators now have the eighth-highest starting salary in the county. We believe this new contract will attract and retain quality educators for our students." KESPA bargaining team member Jeanne Seller, President Gretchen Harris, Secretary Susan Sharpe. KENTFIELD ESPS: Pay increase and protected health benefits Kentfield Education Support Professionals Association (KESPA) members won a new contract in September that will raise their pay and maintain their health benefits at current levels. The new agreement provides for a 5% pay increase retroactive to July 1, and a 4% increase effective July 1, 2025. Members organized to win after the school district made a proposal that would have effectively cut their pay. " This agreement will help attract and retain the best educators for Kentfield students. It takes a village to run a school and KESPA plays an important role in our students' education," said KESPA President Gretchen Harris. SHORELINE: Victory for educator recruitment and retention Shoreline Education Association (SEA) members won a new contract in September that will help recruit and retain the educators that Shoreline students deserve. The new agreement provides a salary increase of $4,000 per educator plus an additional 4% retroactive to July 1. The agreement further provides for a 4.5% increase and a 5% increase for the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 school years, respectively. In addition, the contract provides increases to employee health benefits. " The starting salaries for Shoreline educators were the fourth lowest in Marin County, ranking 13 out of 17 Marin County school districts. Our starting salaries now rank fifth out of 17," said SEA Bargaining Chair Dee Lynn Armstrong. "It was extremely difficult to recruit and retain high-quality educators. Now, we can compete — our students deserve the best and we want to give them the best." 48 cta.org Advocacy