CCSD proposes pay raises, teachers union remains unimpressed

In an email sent to employees on Friday, the Clark County School District publicly revealed details of the contract proposals it has made to its five employee unions, which are all currently in negotiations.

The teachers union has already responded, calling the proposal “unacceptable.”

According to its email to employees, the district says it has proposed: a 3 percent pay increase, a 4 percent increase in district contributions to the medical plan, and “step increases” for all eligible employees. All three bumps would apply to the 2019-2020 contract year, which has already begun. The latter two increases would also apply to the 2020-2021 school year.

The email goes on to explain the district made the proposal to the Clark County Education Association (CCEA) during a negotiation session held Wednesday and is discussing identical proposals with the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-Technical Employees (CCASAPE), the Education Support Employees Association (ESEA), the Police Officers Association of the Clark County School District (POA) and the Police Administrators Association of the Clark County School District Police Department (PAA).

“This is the most significant increase in compensation and benefits proposed for our employees by the District in over a decade,” reads the district’s email. “It is the hope of CCSD that all bargaining units will accept this financial proposal and allow the District to provide the additional financial compensation to all of our employees that was funded during the legislative session and promised to our employees.”

In their response, which was posted to their website within two hours of the district email being distributed, CCEA characterized the proposal as a failure to deliver and expressed disappointment in Superintendent Jesus Jara. The statement notes the district’s proposal does not address “column advancement,” which are larger raises teachers and licensed personnel can earn through investing in professional development and continuing education, or rising employee costs of the retirement plan.

CCEA also contends that everything detailed by the district proposal is guaranteed by the Legislature and will be received retroactively “regardless of when this negotiation is settled.”

The district’s email to employees states the district is prepared to submit its offer to the School Board on Aug. 22.

CCEA states in its response that the district has until that date to “provide a new offer that meets what our membership needs.”

The teachers union statement concludes by saying the union’s executive board will be meeting this weekend to discuss the next steps in calling for a strike.

“All parents will be given ample notice in advance.”