Dear PUSD Community,
We have been informed by the Porterville Educators Association (PEA) that they are unilaterally declaring impasse in our ongoing negotiations. An impasse is a step in the negotiations process where differences in positions are so substantial that future meetings would be futile. Impasse can be declared unilaterally or jointly by both the district and PEA. The district remains willing to continue negotiations to reach an agreement that supports our educators while ensuring the district's long-term fiscal health, and does not believe future meetings would be futile. If PEA unilaterally files for impasse, the district will cooperate with the process, and the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) will ultimately make a determination.
During our most recent bargaining session on May 5, 2025:
- The district presented updated proposals on both salary and Article 34, along with other items under discussion
- PEA did not provide counterproposals to either of these offers nor respond to the other items
- When asked about our salary proposal, we indicated it represented our current position but explicitly stated our willingness to continue discussions.
- PEA representatives then unilaterally declared impasse despite our expressed commitment to ongoing negotiations
We want to clarify that the district did not issue a "Last, Best, and Final" offer as claimed. During negotiations, the district stated its willingness to continue dialogue and presented new language addressing concerns about Article 34, which received no counterproposal.
Our Commitment to Our Educators
We value our educators and recognize their significant contributions to our students' success. This is reflected in:
- Our continued efforts to maintain competitive compensation by strategically utilizing funds beyond base LCFF revenue
- Our willingness to discuss modifications to Article 34 to address concerns
- Other items under discussion where the district tentatively agreed to PEA proposals
Understanding Our District's Financial Reality
Like many districts across California, PUSD faces significant external challenges that impact our financial position:
- Declining Enrollment Impact: Our enrollment has declined by 4.47% over the past five years—a more severe drop than many neighboring districts—directly reducing our state funding.
- Expiring One-Time Funds: The COVID relief funds that temporarily expanded our budget are expiring, creating a transitional period that requires careful financial management.
- Mandatory Cost Increases: Rising pension contributions, special education requirements, and operational costs continue to increase regardless of our funding levels.
These challenges aren't unique to Porterville. Recent reporting by the Fresno Bee and CNBC has highlighted similar financial constraints facing districts throughout California. Many districts are maintaining even higher reserves than PUSD's 16.62% (compared to the statewide average of 24.36% for unified districts) to prepare for the fiscal uncertainty ahead.
Addressing Common Misconceptions
We understand different perspectives on the district's financial position and priorities. In the linked FAQ document, we provide detailed answers to common questions, including:
- How our declining enrollment compares to neighboring districts
- The impact of expiring one-time funds on our budget
- Total compensation comparisons between districts
- The purpose and appropriate use of district reserves
- Details about our current compensation offer
- Administrative staffing levels and facilities needs
- Funding constraints and priorities
Moving Forward
Despite PEA's declaration of impasse, the district remains ready and willing to continue negotiations to reach a collaborative agreement. We believe productive dialogue remains possible and are interested in continuing negotiations at this time.
- Our goal continues to be an agreement that:
- Fairly compensates our valued educators
- Maintains the long-term fiscal health of our district
- Ensures we can continue providing quality education to our students
We remain committed to transparent communication and collaborative problem-solving to address these challenges. For detailed information on the topics discussed above, please review the complete FAQ document.
Thank you for your continued dedication to our students and community.