The Cupertino Courier

News

CUSD, employees get contract agreement

The Cupertino Union School District and its employee organizations reached a two-year agreement on compensation increases, settling months-long negotiations.

Retroactive to July 1, 2005, employees will receive a 5 percent increase for the 2005-06 school year. Employees will receive, for the 2006-07 school year, an increase in the amount of the district's effective cost of living allowance--currently projected to be 7 percent--reduced by 0.68 percent.

The 0.68 percent will be used by the district to address other district needs such as technology, said Jeremy Nishihara, district spokesman.

The COLA increase could change because it is based on the governor's state budget proposal, which has not yet been adopted.

In addition to the compensation increases, the district agreed to make a one-time contribution of $250,000 to the employees' health and welfare fund to help offset increasing employee health care costs.

In December, employees asked for a 5.65 percent cost of living adjustment increase plus a 2.85 percent raise. The district had offered a 4.32 percent COLA.