During Tuesday’s Bakersfield City School District (BCSD) meeting, the public expressed their concerns about the ongoing negotiation settlement process between Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association (BETA) and the district.
Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association (BETA) President Steve Comstock said on a Facebook post that since May, the BCSD district has experienced many new administrative changes, and BETA members are approaching 400 days without a successful agreement. According to Comstock, members can soon expect to pay more than $300 per month toward health benefits while BCSD and the Board refuse to close a bargaining gap of approximately 1.19%, just over $2 million, with a budget approaching $1 billion. Comstock noted after several questions were asked about a potential strike that it is not something to occur overnight, as it is a serious process involving several legal and procedural steps before it can happen. He explained that BCSD can afford to settle and BETA’s proposal is reasonable, responsible, and sustainable.
During the public comment portion, Lila Perez, a kindergarten teacher and BETA member, said she’s been in the district for over 30 years, with experience both inside and outside classrooms. Perez is currently not part of the negotiations team; however, she is active in BETA.
She continued to state her family is also a part of the union and her family’s reasons for being a part of BETA and the process it’s been in settling the contract.
“My dad was enjoying it. My siblings are in the union because they make a difference for families. Quality of life, education, quite a lot,” said Perez. “Probably less than five times, we’ve had an easy negotiation to settle the contract. I don’t know why it’s taking so long.”
Perez emphasized that this settlement needs to be resolved so teachers can focus on their priorities.
“We need to get it done. So teachers can focus on what they’re doing. Everyone in this room that’s impacted by the current economics that is taking place nationally,” said Perez. “The price of gas. There are teachers out there who have huge loans. They have to pay. Rent isn’t cheap. We want to have the best teachers; we’ve got to do right.”
She also questioned why this matter has to be so challenging, and why she always hears the same response.
“And in those 30-plus years that I’ve been in the district, it’s always the same message. There’s no money. Yes, but we can give so and so a raise, right? Right?” said Perez.
“I mean, I’m sort of out of the loop regarding district positions too, but as I look and get a little bit more active, because I sort of stepped away too, because sometimes you need to have self-care, and I’m getting back into the groove, and I’m seeing things that are inequitable. It’s like, stop.”
She continued to emphasize doing what’s right for teachers and making their lives easier.
“Do what’s right. Make it easy. Make it easy for our teachers so we can just focus on education. And saying that the money’s not there. I just don’t believe it,” said Perez.
During the report on District organization, President Dinah May Jimenez from California School Employees Association (CSEA) supports her agreement with Perez that the negotiation process should be simple.
BCSD board members did not comment during the meeting, and negotiations between the district and BETA are still happening.