Negotiations & Labor Relations

 

Negotiations Update - April 1st, 2026

On Monday, March 30, the District and the Porterville Educators Association (PEA) met in advance of the first bargaining session of our successor contract negotiations. Our current agreement expires June 30, 2026, and this round covers the full contract.

 

We spent the day establishing the procedural ground rules that will guide how both teams work together going forward. By the end of the session, we had agreed on a set of negotiation norms covering good-faith bargaining, how proposals will be exchanged, how information requests will be handled, how we communicate about bargaining with our respective groups, and how tentative agreements will be put in writing.

 

No contract proposals were discussed at this session. The focus was entirely on getting the procedural foundation in place before we move into the topics that will shape the next agreement. Our next meeting is scheduled for April 15.

 

Going forward, we plan to send regular updates like this one so that all staff have accurate, timely information about the process.

 

It was a productive session, and the District looks forward to continued good-faith discussions with PEA as we work toward a new agreement.

Porterville Unified School District Labor Partners

Porterville Unified School District is proud to work alongside our labor partners in service to our students and community.

• Porterville Educators Association (PEA)
• California School Employees Association (CSEA), Chapter 38

                                   

 

We believe in sharing the facts. Here's what you should know about how Porterville Unified supports students, teachers, and families.

		Keeping and Hiring Great Teachers Each year, more than 9 out of 10 teachers stay at PUSD Our teacher turnover rate is about half of the state average No teacher layoffs for over a decade
		Class Sizes At the start of the school year, class sizes may look bigger as students return PUSD works quickly to even out class sizes to those agreed upon in the teacher contract Most classrooms have 30 students or fewer; if a class has more, teachers are paid extra Many classrooms also have Instructional Aides or Specialists to support teachers and address student needs
		Budgeting that Supports Students $142 million in one-time state and federal funds used to fix roofs, improve air systems, make campuses safer, and meet access rules for students with disabilities This money cannot be used for ongoing salary commitments The Classroom Expenditure Accountability rule of 55% does not count critical supports like counselors, nurses, and psychologists - services that teachers, students, and families rely on
		Healthcare that Supports Teachers' Families Healthcare costs for families are just $60 a month — the same low rate for over 10 years PUSD contributes $20,000 per teacher per year to pay for healthcare
		Pay and Benefits for Teachers Average PUSD teacher salary: $105,963 — higher than nearby districts Teachers with advanced degrees can earn up to $135,426 This does not include extra pay for special jobs or healthcare for retired teachers, which many other districts no longer offer
		Our Commitment We care deeply about our students, teachers, and staff, and we stand by our commitments to them. PUSD remains committed to: ✓ Safe and caring schools ✓ Fair pay and strong benefits ✓ Smart spending that protects students, jobs, and programs