Rancho Santa Fe School board reaches agreement with Rancho Santa Fe Faculty Association

By Karen Billing

The Rancho Santa Fe School District was able to settle its negotiations with the Rancho Santa Fe Faculty Association for the 2014-15 school year, ratifying the agreement at a special board meeting on June 12.

The agreement reached is for a one-time, off-salary schedule payment equal to 2 percent of each employee’s placement on the salary schedule, paid in a lump sum. All classified and certificated staff will receive the increase, including all administrators except for Superintendent Lindy Delaney.

Delaney said the district wanted to get the item on an agenda as soon as possible so the money could be added into the June paychecks.

The agreement also increased the cap on the district contribution for health care benefits to $675 per month and represents a $151,122 adjustment to the budget.

In March, the faculty association made its initial presentation to the school board, requesting a bump in salary, as there had not been an increase since 2009.

In 2013 the teachers settled on what amounted to a one-year bonus for the current year of 2 percent of their current salary. In March, the association presented its belief that the district has the resources to improve employee compensation, providing a consistent salary increase.

The board ratified the 2014-15 agreement in a 3-0 vote with one abstention.

As he did last year, trustee Todd Buchner abstained from a vote. He has stated in the past that while he supports RSF teachers, he has issues with step and column, the salary schedule that determines teacher pay, and whether it is the right long-term decision for school districts.

A representative of the RSF Faculty Association said they had no comment on the agreement.