Negotiations Update

Santa Barbara Teacher's Association (SBTA)

Reach Tentative Agreements on Wages & Class Size Flexibility

Tentative Agreements to be Ratified by SBTA Members and Board of Trustees

Introduction

This is the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s (SBUSD) eleventh and final Negotiations Update for 2025-2026 “reopener” contract negotiations between the District and the Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA). “Reopener” negotiations are for the third year of a three-year contract. After negotiating the last 2 articles this morning, SBTA and SBUSD have concluded negotiations for the 26-27 school year.

SBUSD & SBTA Reach Tentative Agreements on Final 2 Articles

Wages: SBUSD and SBTA reached a Tentative Agreement to provide a $1,500 ongoing raise to all certificated employees.
Secondary Class Size: SBUSD and SBTA agreed to allow secondary class size case loads to exceed current limits if the school administrator and teacher agree. The District would pay teachers $1,000 per semester for each additional student.

The District thanks SBTA’s bargaining team for a collaborative negotiation process.

Next Steps:

Tentative Agreements to be Ratified by SBTA Members and Board of Trustees.

Dr. John Becchio, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
Conrad Tedeschi, CPA, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services
Joanna Powell, General Counsel
Casie Killgore, Franklin Principal
Bill Woodard, Dos Pueblos Principal

SBUSD & SBTA Meet for 10th Bargaining Session

Counterproposals Exchanged on Wages & Class Size Flexibility

Hourly Pay & Elementary Specials Proposals Mutually Withdrawn

Introduction

This is the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s (SBUSD) tenth Negotiations Update for 2025-2026 “reopener” contract negotiations between the District and the Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA). “Reopener” negotiations are for the third year of a three-year contract.

Counterproposals Exchanged on Wages & Class Size Flexibility

Wages: SBUSD began the day with a District finances update and responded to SBTA’s prior proposal ($2,800 ongoing raise and $2,100 one-time) with the same proposal as the prior session, a $1,000 raise. SBTA returned a $2,000 counteroffer without a one-time payment.
Secondary Class Size: SBUSD and SBTA continue to pass counterproposals on this item and will discuss it further at the next meeting. Both sides have agreed to compensation amounts, but have not agreed on specific language in this article

Hourly Pay & Elementary Specials Articles Mutually Withdrawn

Hourly Pay & Elementary Specials: SBUSD and SBTA mutually agreed to withdraw the Hourly Pay and Elementary Specials proposals. These items can be discussed again in a future round of bargaining.

Next Steps:

The next negotiation sessions will take place on May 11, 2026.

SBUSD and SBTA Reach Sixth Tentative Agreement on Elementary Prep Time

SBUSD & SBTA Exchange Counter Proposals on Hourly Pay,
Class Size, & Elementary Specials

SBTA Counters on Wages

Introduction

This is the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s (SBUSD) ninth Negotiations Update for 2025-2026 “reopener” contract negotiations between the District and the Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA). “Reopener” negotiations are for the third year of a three-year contract.

SBUSD & SBTA Reach Tentative Agreement on Elementary Prep Time

Elementary Prep Time: SBUSD and SBTA agreed to new language that provides both classroom and specials teachers with 8 prep periods per month.

SBUSD & SBTA Exchange Counter Proposals on Hourly Pay & Class Size

Hourly Pay: SBUSD and SBTA exchanged counterproposals to increase certificated employees' hourly pay by 10%.
Class Size Flexibility: SBUSD added language allowing the assignment of extra students for pay only to permanent teachers. SBTA countered with language to pay teachers $500 for a one-term class and $1,000 for a two-term class.

SBTA Counters on Wages

Wages: SBTA countered with a proposal to increase wages by a flat total of $2,800, plus a one-time bonus of $2,100 dollars for all certificated employees. SBTA’s initial proposal was $3,000, and the District’s first counteroffer was $1,000.

SBUSD Provides Sample Specials Schedule

Elementary Specials: At SBTA’s request, SBUSD provided a sample specials schedule, demonstrating the viability of SBUSD’s proposal from the prior session.

Next Steps:

The next negotiation sessions will take place on May 1 and 11, 2026.

Dr. John Becchio, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
Conrad Tedeschi, CPA, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services
ShaKenya Edison, Assistant Superintendent of Student & Family Services
Joanna Powell, General Counsel
Bill Woodard, Dos Pueblos Principal

SBUSD and SBTA Reach Fifth Tentative Agreement on High School Librarians

SBUSD and SBTA Exchange Counterproposals on Elementary Prep Time

SBUSD Offers Counterproposal on Hourly Rates, Health Benefits, Counselor Caseloads, & Secondary Class Size Flexibility

Introduction

This is the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s (SBUSD) eighth Negotiations Update for 2025-2026 “reopener” contract negotiations between the District and the Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA). “Reopener” negotiations are for the third year of a three-year contract.

SBUSD and SBTA Reach Fifth Tentative Agreement on High School Librarians

High School Librarians: Both parties agreed to add four days to the high school librarian work calendar.

SBUSD and SBTA Exchange Counterproposals on Elementary Prep Time

Elementary Prep Time: SBTA passed a counter proposal for two 45-minute prep blocks per week for elementary teachers. SBUSD passed back a counter that accepted the new framework provided by SBTA, and proposed granting specials teachers the same allotment.

SBUSD Offers Counterproposal on Hourly Rates, Health Benefits, Counselor Caseloads, & Secondary Class Size Flexibility

Hourly Rates: SBUSD accepted SBTA’s proposal to tie hourly rate to future increases to the salary schedule, and reinserted language to define the workday.
Health Benefits: SBUSD passed back a status quo proposal on health benefits based on cost impacts of the article and improvements made to insurance benefits in the last round of negotiations.
Counselor Caseloads: SBUSD returned a status quo proposal on counselors because current caseloads are among the lowest in the state, indicating that setting a cap in the contract is not necessary.
Secondary Class Size Flexibility: SBUSD proposed new levels of compensation for secondary teachers whose class sizes exceed contract limits.

Next Steps:

The next negotiation session is April 21, 2026.

SBUSD and SBTA Reach Fourth Tentative Agreement on Union Rights & Meetings

Counters Exchanged By Both Sides on Class Size

SBUSD Makes Counterproposal on Elementary Prep Time & High School Librarians

SBTA Counters on Counselor Caseloads & Health Insurance Modifications

Introduction

This is the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s (SBUSD) seventh Negotiations Update for 2025-2026 “reopener” contract negotiations between the District and the Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA). “Reopener” negotiations mean this is the third year of a three-year contract.

SBUSD and SBTA Reach Fourth Tentative Agreement on Union Rights & Meetings

Union Rights & Meetings: SBUSD and SBTA reached a Tentative Agreement that SBUSD will provide SBTA with space for union meetings during lunch or after SBUSD’s 3 professional development days, and will inform teachers when and where those union meetings will take place.

Counters Exchanged By Both Sides on Class Size

Class Size: SBUSD and SBTA exchanged 3 counters on the per-student stipend amount for secondary educators whose classes exceed the current class-size contract language.

SBUSD Makes Counterproposal on Elementary Prep Time & High School Librarians

Elementary Prep Time: The District returned a counter proposal around Elementary Prep time to maintain the current system of 2-3 PLCs per week, along with 300 minutes of prep time. The District prioritizes teacher collaboration around the specific needs of the students in their classrooms related to Math and ELA achievement. The District remains committed to the PLC framework, which is a designated investment in a culture focused on student learning, through data-driven, recurring cycles of collective inquiry around real-time student learning needs.
High School Librarians: SBUSD counter proposed a new schedule that would add two days to the high school librarian schedule.

SBTA Counters on Counselor Caseloads, Health Insurance Modifications, & Class Size

Counselor Caseload: SBTA countered with a proposal to establish mandatory ratios for secondary counselors.
Health Insurance Modifications: SBTA’s counterproposal requests that the District fully cover an employee's insurance if both spouses or domestic partners work for SB Unified.

Next Steps:

The next negotiation session is March 17, 2026.

SBUSD & SBTA Reach Third Tentative Agreement on Early Childhood Education Meetings

SBUSD & SBTA Reach Third Tentative Agreement on
Early Childhood Education Meetings

SBUSD Presents Budget Update to Start Meeting

SBUSD Makes Initial Proposal on Class Size; Counters on Several Articles

Introduction

This is the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s (SBUSD) sixth Negotiations Update for 2025-2026 “reopener” contract negotiations between the District and the Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA). “Reopener” negotiations mean this is the third year of a three-year contract.

SBUSD & SBTA Reach Third Tentative Agreement on Early Childhood Education (ECE) Meetings

SBUSD and SBTA reached a tentative agreement on ECE meetings to clarify the timing and manner of attendance and guarantee hourly compensation for meetings after the 8-hour workday.

SBUSD Presents Budget Context

SBUSD started its counterproposals by reviewing the First Interim Budget Report from December. Highlights included:
- Plan for $6 million in total reductions over the 2026-2027 and 2027-28 fiscal years to pay for the prior round of raises and maintain a reserve of at least 5%. Additional reductions beyond the $6 million would be needed to fund any new negotiated settlement costs.
- Historical data for the last 6 years shows a 27% increase to compensation across all bargaining units at a total cost of $62,154,734. Increases in property tax revenues across the same 6 years totaled $51,190,388.
- We will evaluate and implement cost reduction strategies necessary to ensure fiscal sustainability and positive budget certifications going forward.

SBUSD Makes Initial Proposal on Class Size; Counters on Several Articles

SBUSD proposed a per-student stipend for secondary educators whose classes exceed the current class-size contract language. This language provides the flexibility needed to allow for more efficient staffing.
The District counterproposal adds a flat wage increase of $1,000 to all steps on the salary schedule.
The District made a counterproposal to increase the hourly work rate by 10%.
The District also counterproposed Librarians, Counselor Caseload, Stipends, and Insurance articles with a return to the original contract language. This decision was made due to the cost impacts of each article, and a prioritization of putting any budget increases to employee wages.

Next Steps:

The next negotiation session is February 23, 2026.

Dr. John Becchio, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources

Conrad Tedeschi, CPA, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services

ShaKenya Edison, Assistant Superintendent of Student & Family Services

Joanna Powell, General Counsel

Casie Killgore, Franklin Principal

Bill Woodard, Dos Pueblos Principal

Santa Barbara Unified & Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA) Meet For Fifth Labor Negotiation Bargaining Session

Santa Barbara Unified & Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA) Meet
For Fifth Labor Negotiation Bargaining Session

SB Unified Offers Counterproposal on Early Childhood Education (ECE) Meetings

SBTA Makes Initial Proposals on Wage Increase & Adding Course Takes

Introduction

This is the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s (SBUSD) fifth Negotiations Update for 2025-2026 “reopener” contract negotiations between the District and the Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA). “Reopener” negotiations mean this is the third year of a three-year contract.

SB Unified Offers Counterproposal on Early Childhood Education (ECE) Meetings

SBUSD offered language about meeting structure for Early Childhood Education with a virtual option and compensation if the meeting day stretches past an eight-hour workday.

SBTA Makes Initial Proposals on Wage Increase & Adding Course Takes

SBTA proposed increasing wages by $3,000 per unit member
SBTA proposed that high school staffing levels will be calculated by student requests.

Next Steps:

The next negotiation session is January 29, 2026.

Dr. John Becchio, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources

Conrad Tedeschi, CPA, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services

ShaKenya Edison, Assistant Superintendent of Student & Family Services

Joanna Powell, General Counsel

Casie Killgore, Franklin Principal

Bill Woodard, Dos Pueblos Principal

Gregory J. Dannis, Labor Negotiations Counsel

Santa Barbara Unified (SBUSD) & Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA) Reach Second Tentative Agreement on Late Starts

Santa Barbara Unified (SBUSD) & Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA)
Reach Second Tentative Agreement on Late Starts

SBUSD Counterproposes on Union Rights & Meetings

SBTA Offers Proposals on Elementary Librarians, Health Insurance Modifications, Elementary Specials

SBUSD Provides Cost of SBTA’s Initial Stipend Proposal

Introduction

This is the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s (SBUSD) fourth Negotiations Update for 2025-2026 “reopener” contract negotiations between the District and the Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA). “Reopener” negotiations mean this is the third year of a three-year contract.

The parties can negotiate over Wages, Health and Welfare Benefits, and three additional articles chosen by each party. The District will distribute the Negotiations Update after meetings with SBTA to inform our community on the progress of negotiations.

SBUSD & SBTA Reach Second Tentative Agreement on Late Starts

SBUSD and SBTA reached a tentative agreement that clarifies the process if a school site desires to change from a Thursday late start day by requiring a 2/3 vote by unit members at the site.

SBUSD Counterproposes on Union Rights & Meetings

The District’s counterproposal maintains the preservation of professional development time to improve teaching and learning. It also continues to provide SBTA opportunities to meet with members immediately after the end of District-scheduled programming on three designated Professional Development days. Therefore, the District did not agree to SBTA’s proposal to carve out a portion of paid, contractual professional development for union business.

SBTA Offers Proposals on Elementary Librarians, Health Insurance Modifications, Elementary Specials, & Additional Stipend Schedules

Elementary Librarians: SBTA proposed adding two teacher librarians in the 26/27 school year and 3 additional teacher librarians in 27/28.
Health Insurance Modifications: SBTA proposal included modifications to how insurance benefits are covered for couples who are married or domestic partners when both work for SB Unified.
Elementary Specials: SBTA proposed new language that defines full-time status for elementary specials teachers and clarifies the expected duties for teachers with less than full-time teaching loads.

SBUSD Provides Estimated Cost of SBTA’s Proposals to Date

SBUSD shared the estimated total costs of SBTA’s proposals to date, which is approximately $4.5 million.

Next Steps:

The next negotiation session is January 9, 2026.

Dr. John Becchio, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources

Conrad Tedeschi, CPA, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services

ShaKenya Edison, Assistant Superintendent of Student & Family Services

Joanna Powell, General Counsel

Casie Killgore, Franklin Principal

Bill Woodard, Dos Pueblos Principal

Gregory J. Dannis, Labor Negotiations Counsel

Santa Barbara Unified (SBUSD) & Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA) Meet for Third Bargaining Session

Santa Barbara Unified (SBUSD) & Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA)
Meet for Third Bargaining Session

SBUSD Makes Counter Proposal on Secondary Late Start/ Professional Learning Community Meetings

SBTA Offers Counter Proposal on Union Rights & Meetings; Early Childhood Education (ECE) Meetings; Stipend & Hourly Rate Structure

Introduction

This is the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s (SBUSD) third Negotiations Update for 2025-2026 “reopener” contract negotiations between the District and the Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA). “Reopener” negotiations mean this is the third year of a three-year contract.

SBUSD and SBTA Exchange Counter Proposals on Secondary Late Start/Professional Learning Community Meetings

SBUSD passed a second counterproposal, which clarified the process to initiate a change to the late start day and require a majority vote by unit members at the site.
SBTA countered with a proposal for a 2/3 supermajority vote rather than a simple majority.

SBTA Offers Counter Proposal on Union Rights & Meetings; Early Childhood Education (ECE) Meetings; Stipend & Hourly Rate Structure

Union Rights & Meetings: SBTA brought a counterproposal to set aside time during Professional Development days for union business.
Early Childhood Education (ECE) Meetings: The two teams continued negotiations around the monthly meeting structure for Early Childhood Education.
Stipend & Hourly Rate Structure: SBTA passed two initial proposals, one that changes the hourly rate structure for teachers, and the other that creates a new methodology for cocurricular stipend calculations. The District informed SBTA that it will need to study the cost of these proposals along with all other previously proposed expenses before making a counter.

Next Steps:

The next negotiation session is on December 15. The teams also agreed on additional meeting dates in January, February, and March.

Dr. John Becchio, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources

Conrad Tedeschi, CPA, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services

Joanna Powell, General Counsel

Casie Killgore, Franklin Principal

Bill Woodard, Dos Pueblos Principal

Santa Barbara Unified (SBUSD) & Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA) Reach First Tentative Agreement

SBUSD Offers Counterproposals on
Early Childhood Education (ECE) Meetings; Union Rights & Meetings

SBTA Offers Proposals on Counselor Staffing Ratios and Jr. High 7 Period Day

SBTA and SBUSD Continued Discussion Around Stipend Structure

Introduction

This is the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s (SBUSD) second Negotiations Update for 2025-2026 “reopener” contract negotiations between the District and the Santa Barbara Teachers Association (SBTA). “Reopener” negotiations mean this is the third year of a three-year contract.

Parties Reach First Tentative Agreement on Calendar
After exchanging proposals with each other, SBUSD and SBTA reached their first tentative agreement on the calendar. The parties agreed to establish a two-year calendar cycle beginning with calendar negotiations for the 26-27 school year.

SBUSD Counter Proposals

Early Childhood Education (ECE) Meetings: The District’s counterproposal aims to clarify the current meeting structure for ECE teachers, which supports student-centered practices and enhances the quality and effectiveness of educator collaboration. The proposal provides flexibility to hold meetings in person or virtually.
Union Rights & Meetings: The District’s counterproposal preserves the use of professional development time to improve teaching and learning. It also provides SBTA opportunities to meet with members immediately after the end of District-scheduled programming on three designated Professional Development days.

SBTA Counter Proposals

Secondary Late Start: SBTA proposed a site-based voting process in order to modify the established Staff or PLC meeting day.

SBTA Proposals

Counselor Staffing Ratios: SBTA proposed the creation of a school counselor case ratio not to exceed 250 students to 1 counselor. In addition, they proposed that each high school with an enrollment of over 500 students shall be assigned an additional counselor.
Jr. High 7 Period Day: SBTA proposed the adoption of a 7-period day at the junior high schools.

Continued Discussion Around Stipend Structure

The parties discussed modifying the stipend pay structure.

During discussions on these topics, the District emphasized to SBTA that these proposals carry a cost that must be taken into account along with all other cost proposals.

Next Steps:

The next negotiation session is on December 2.

Dr. John Becchio, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
Conrad Tedeschi, CPA, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services
Joanna Powell, General Counsel
ShaKenya Edison, Assistant Superintendent of Student & Family Services
Casie Killgore, Franklin Principal
Bill Woodard, Dos Pueblos Principal
Gregory J. Dannis, Labor Negotiations Counsel