Teachers Ratify Agreement With District

Teachers in the Elk Grove Unified School District voted this week to approve with the district for the 2012-2013 school year, ending months of over proposed benefit cuts and layoffs.

Ninety-four percent of Elk Grove Education Association members voted to ratify the agreement, the union announced Wednesday night. The pact includes a cost-sharing plan that will see teachers paying for 20 percent of their health benefits (with discounts for those who follow a wellness plan) and the district picking up the remaining 80 percent.

"[The agreement] demonstrates that our membership was always willing to be a partner in sharing costs for healthcare," union president Maggie Ellis said in an email. "It was the manner in which we came to an agreement that drew teachers from their classroom and campuses to be heard."

Teachers gave up an annual stipend paid for with California lottery funds, but avoided an absolute cap on health benefit spending, which the district had sought. Class sizes would be between 24 and 26 for grades K-3 and 28 for grades 4-6 under the agreement, which covers more than 3,000 teachers and other professional staff.

The school district board is expected to formally approve the agreement at a special meeting scheduled for Thursday.

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