BUSD approves 6.08 percent increase for classified staff

The Bonsall Unified School District and the Bonsall chapter of the California School Employees Association have reached an agreement on a contract for the 2015-16 school year.

The BUSD board ratified the one-year contract March 9 on a 4-0 vote with Erin English absent. The district's classified employees will be receiving a 6.08 percent salary increase effective July 1, 2015, and the maximum health benefit plan contribution for eligible unit members will be increased from $3,000 to $4,000 as of July 1, 2016.

"It's not just a salary issue," said BUSD superintendent Justin Cunningham. "We looked at full compensation."

On Dec. 8 the BUSD board approved an agreement with the Bonsall Teachers Association which includes a 4.5 percent pay increase for certificated staff and also covers stipends for coaching and other extracurricular activities. That increase was used to negotiate the contract for the classified employees. "We worked out a similar breakdown," Cunningham said.

Because the increases for the certificated employees included stipends, the base salary increase for the classified employees is higher. "There were other issues that evened it out," Cunningham said.

A classified employee who works at least 50 percent of a full-time equivalent is eligible for health benefits. The district's annual maximum contribution for new eligible employees who choose employee plus one or employee plus family plans will be the cost of coverage for a health maintenance organization employee only plus $3,000. Members hired on or after April 1, 2016, will receive the full cost for enrollment in the HMO Network 1 or Kaiser plans, although an employee choosing the Network 2 or Network 3 plan will be responsible for the additional cost.