Tamalpais Union High School District Contract Talks Stall

LARKSPUR, CA – Larkspur-based Tamalpais Union High School District and its teachers have reached an impasse in the contract negotiations, according to the teachers' union.

The Tamalpais Federation of Teachers is considering filing an unfair labor practices complaint against the district and seeking mediation of a new contract, TFT President Cory DeMars said.

DeMars said the important issues include student enrollment, classroom sharing, compensation, the high cost of living in the District and a shrinking pool of highly-qualified teachers.

District Superintendent Dr. David Yoshihara offered teachers a six-percent raise for 2016-17 and four percent in 2017-18 - the equivalent of 2009 salaries when adjusted for inflation, DeMars said. Yoshihara later
withdrew the offer and submitted a new proposal that exceeded the cost of the original offer, DeMars said.

The District claims rising health care costs for employees have had a significant negative impact on the District's budget, according to DeMars.

Yoshihara did not respond to an email for comments on the District's position late Friday afternoon.

By Bay City News