The Sonoma Valley Unified School District averted a teacher strike Wednesday by approving a new contract. The deal includes a 4% raise for 42 teachers with overcrowded classrooms and a 2% raise for the rest. This comes after months of negotiations and a planned strike due to a perceived lack of good faith from the district.
The raises, along with other concessions, will significantly impact the district’s already strained finances. The district is facing a projected deficit of over $2 million in the current school year, and the Sonoma County Office of Education has expressed serious concerns about the district’s long-term financial stability.
The board has been instructed to develop a plan to address the budget shortfall, including identifying potential expenditure cuts. Despite these financial challenges, the district felt compelled to approve the contract to prevent a disruption to student learning.
