Agreement reached: Natomas teachers strike ends

After a week of striking and a year of bargaining, the Natomas Unified School District and Natomas Teachers Association have reached a tentative agreement that includes financial improvements and changes to address class sizes.

The agreement includes more than $22 million in investments toward stabilizing the district’s staffing crisis, which has more than 800 students without a permanent educator, according to a press release from California Teachers Association.

The press release states that there are improvements to working and learning conditions including a 5.25% salary increase over the next two years, and a “pathway to fully funded family healthcare.” Additional terms include more prep time and support to improve classroom safety.

NTA President Nico Vaccaro wrote in a statement that the strike revealed a lot about the district's leadership and it put a spotlight on the growing power of the school’s community.

“NUSD has made it clear that we will have to fight every step of the way to truly achieve the schools our students deserve,” Vaccaro wrote. “This strike fundamentally changed the culture of both our union and the district. The NTA community is stronger than ever, and our priorities are clear: Natomas students deserve safe, stable, fully-funded schools.” 

The Natomas Unified School District issued a statement saying they’re pleased to have reached an agreement with NTA.

“We appreciate the work and efforts of all involved to reach an agreement. Reaching this agreement means that the work stoppage has come to an end and certificated staff will be returning to the sites Thursday, March 19.”

Jessica Vroman, the mother who was arrested Tuesday for trespassing at the Natomas Unified District Office, was able to take all three of her kids to school today after the agreement was reached.

“I think the biggest word, honestly, is relief for the teachers, first of all, who have gone without pay for a week now, without seeing the kids they love and adore for a week,” Vroman said. “And relief for the parents like me that get to send their kids back to school.”

Vroman said she walked her kids to school, and when she dropped them off, she got a lot of hugs, smiles, high fives and cheers from teachers.

“It was wonderful to see everybody back together and the community sort of reunited and moving forward from all of this,” she said.

Vroman hopes the district will learn from this experience moving forward and do what it can to avoid another strike.  

“I'm pretty hopeful that we can all come back together and just keep moving forward, and we'll see what happens in two years when the contract is up again,” Vroman said.