_{Thumbnail image includes the DNUSD and CSEA logos taken from the district’s Facebook page and Great Northern Chapter #178’s Facebook page.}

Negotiations between Del Norte Unified School District and the union that represents its classified employees are set to start over after members of the union’s local chapter rejected a tentative agreement.

The rejection of the proposed agreement between DNUSD and the California School Employees Association Great Northern Chapter #178 comes as contract discussions between the district and the Del Norte Teachers Association head toward mediation.

It also prompted Jenna Lussier, lead negotiator for CSEA Great Northern #178, to step down from the union’s negotiating team.

“I believe we negotiated diligently with the district, ultimately reaching a tentative agreement designed to meet the needs of all parties involved,” Lussier told the Board of Trustees on Thursday. “The unfortunate outcome means that many members who were hopeful for an additional bonus during these challenging times will be disappointed. It’s truly regrettable that our efforts have not resulted in the support our members deserve.”

The negotiations teams for both parties, along with regional labor representatives and state CSEA representatives approved the tentative agreement with the district, however members from the local chapter did not ratify it, Assistant Superintendent of Business Jeff Napier said.

The new 2024-2026 contract included a $1,000 one-time bonus for all full-time equivalent CSEA members. Since the local CSEA chapter did not ratify the contract, the union and DNUSD will reopen negotiations on all articles in the proposed contract, Napier said.

Board President Charlaine Mazzei said she was disappointed in the outcome.

“That’s money that could have been in people’s pockets,” she said.

Napier thanked Lussier for her work.

“I thought we worked really well together,” Napier said, adding that he was surprised at the outcome.

At the School Board’s Dec. 12 meeting, Greg Bowen, the district’s director of fiscal services, said DNUSD had set aside a total of $750,000 for proposed contract settlements for its classified and certificated staff.

If the local CSEA chapter had accepted the tentative agreement, the total estimated one-time cost to DNUSD for those $1,000 per-employee bonuses would have been $353,000, according to supporting documents included in Napier’s report.

On Thursday, DNTA president Amber Tiedeken-Cron urged the Board to consider the union’s request for decreasing the number of adjunct hours teachers work.

DNTA and DNUSD are expected to start working with a mediator this week. The stalemate comes after DNTA rejected a district offer of $750 one-time bonuses for all of its members, pushing instead for ongoing salary increases.

DNUSD cited the “current fiscal climate” as the reason for not making those bonuses ongoing salary raises.

However, according to Tiedeken-Cron, there’s been no movement on the union’s non-monetary requests, including the proposal to reduce the number of adjunct hours. Adjunct hours are unpaid tasks teachers are required to do outside their normal work day. Those duties include attending parent conferences and other meetings, she said.

“We’re trying to work with you guys,” Tiedeken-Cron told trustees. “We know we’re headed to mediation. I want the Board to keep in mind that you have the power to close it out 100 percent. Ask the [negotiation] teams back to the table. Look at priorities. We encourage you to visit school sites and see what people are doing.”

During public comment, Carrie Crist, a teacher at Smith River School, said she’s been unable to fulfill her responsibility to provide 12-hours of “volunteer time” because she’s already been doing “school-required things.” This includes working with parents to develop or modify individualized education plans for their students, providing lesson plans for substitutes and correcting student assignments on weekends.

“We have meetings with parents,” she said. “I’ve been to four meetings with one child because the parent didn’t show up for three of them. I want you to be aware of what you’re asking of teachers. The 12 hours are too much. You need to start negotiating and being aware.”

DNUSD Board member Abbie Crist clarified with Napier that teachers are contractually required to provide 12 adjunct hours to the district a year. She said this includes providing for school needs such as chaperoning dances and attending family night activities.

DNTA and DNUSD began contract negotiations in March 2024. DNTA rejected the district’s offer on Dec. 3. On Dec. 12, Napier said he would file impasse documents with the California Public Employment Relations Board.

The impasse starts a formal process, which includes sending in a neutral mediator to help both sides find common ground. After two to three months, if that fails, a representative of both sides and a neutral fact-finder reviews the district’s budget, staff salaries and proposals on both sides and makes a recommended resolution.

If both sides still disagree, DNTA may vote on a strike or DNUSD may impose their last best and final offer.