Los Angeles Unified students who are quarantining at home due to the coronavirus pandemic will receive access to live instruction online, while employees represented by United Teachers Los Angeles will receive a 5% salary increase and other financial compensation as part of a tentative agreement reached by the school district and teachers union.
The tentative deal was announced Wednesday, Sept. 22, following weeks of negotiations that focused heavily on a Continuity of Learning Plan. The plan lays out how teachers will deliver instruction to students forced to stay home either because of the pandemic or a situation such as a wildfire-related school closure.
LAUSD school board President Kelly Gonez and interim Superintendent Megan K. Reilly said in a joint statement the tentative agreement “provides students and their families clear expectations and support for learning at home if they are asked to isolate or quarantine.”
“This agreement also supports our educators and students during this difficult and unique time,” they added. “We will continue to work with public health officials to maintain the safest possible learning environment and workplace for all.”
Below is a summary of the deal, as provided by the district. The agreement still needs to be ratified by the school board and UTLA.
Wages
- 5% ongoing wage increase retroactive to July 1, 2021.
- A one-time $2,000 instructional stipend for provision of additional services.
- A one-time $500 technology stipend.
- A $5,000 retention incentive for nurses, to be paid out over three years.
Continuity of Learning
- Agreement to provide live access to classroom instruction for students who are quarantined at home due to COVID-19 via Zoom.
- Agreement to work collaboratively with an in-class substitute to provide instruction and direction to all students if the classroom teacher is quarantined at home.
- Agreement to provide live instruction to all students if an entire class/school is closed due to COVID-19 or wildfires via Zoom.
Health & Safety
- Back-to-School Night and parent-educator conferences shall be conducted virtually.
- Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meetings may be held virtually for parents who choose to use this alternative means of meeting participation. For parents who choose to have an IEP team meeting in person, the space requirements must be in alignment with current Los Angeles County Department of Public Health guidelines. The program outlines what specific resources and special services students are entitled to receive.
- Weekly COVID-19 testing for all students and employees will continue through the end of the first semester and for unvaccinated individuals thereafter.
- Students, staff and visitors will continue to be screened for COVID-19 symptoms prior to entering campuses and will continue to enforce mask mandates.
- Local School Leadership Councils at each school shall make every effort to develop alternative student eating procedures for inclement weather days, with the goal of preventing any students from eating in classrooms.
Check back for updates as this story develops.