Natomas Unified is one of three districts where teachers are considering a strike.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Three Sacramento-area school districts are moving closer to possible teacher strikes, and Natomas Unified School District leaders are preparing for what could happen if classrooms go without teachers.
Natomas Unified leaders held a special meeting Thursday morning to decide how they would respond if teachers walk off the job. The district approved emergency measures designed to keep schools open as Natomas teachers and other local unions consider a possible strike.
As the possibility of a teachers strike grows, Natomas Unified leaders say they are taking steps to keep schools operating.
“The only reason why we are doing this, is to make sure we can keep our sites open and that our students have somewhere safe to go if we don’t have all the staff we normally have,” said Scott Dosick, Natomas Unified board member.
The resolution approved 5-0 early Thursday gives Superintendent Dr. Robyn Castillo emergency authority to hire replacement certificated and classified staff at daily rates up to $600, reassign administrators to classrooms and offer extra pay to unrepresented employees who take on added responsibilities. The superintendent may also contract with outside individuals or firms to maintain school operations.
The resolution says employees who participate in unauthorized absences during a strike would face salary deductions and loss of service credit toward the State Teachers’ Retirement System or Public Employees’ Retirement System. Striking employees would also be barred from entering school campuses, and only authorized personnel would be allowed on campuses during a work stoppage.
The superintendent is also authorized to close schools, suspend extracurricular activities and initiate legal action if student or staff safety is at risk due to inadequate staffing or disruptions.
“This is not something I want to do. This is something I think we have to do,” said Micah Grant, Natomas Unified board president.
“I got a lot of comments from folks in the community asking, ‘hey, we have to preserve the programs.’ Things that make Natomas unique and special and including our teachers. This is not a zero sum game,” Grant said.
Some parents say the district should instead focus on improving conditions for teachers.
“The teachers’ working conditions are extreme in this district and I really stand with the teachers,” said Jennifer Souza, Natomas parent.
Natomas Unified is one of three districts where teachers are considering a strike. The others are Twin Rivers Unified and West Sacramento’s Washington Unified. Together, the districts serve more than 60,000 students.
“We are awaiting the fact-finding report to be released on Monday. It is good news that the district has agreed to come back to negotiations on March 3rd and March 4th and we hope that we are able to avert a strike,” said Nico Vaccaro, president of the Natomas Teachers Association.
The closest possible strike could happen in Twin Rivers Unified, where teachers say they could walk out March 5 unless a deal is reached.
While families are worried about the impact of a strike on students, some say they still support teachers.
“I think the teachers definitely deserve the type of pay and recognition that they have been putting in and earning,” said Mykhel Lee, whose family members attend Grant Union High School in Twin Rivers Unified.
Washington Unified teachers have already authorized a strike and have a fact-finding hearing scheduled March 17.
California Teachers Association says Natomas Unified and Twin Rivers Unified teachers are continuing to meet with their districts in an effort to avoid a strike.
“They come to work every day and try to make sure that these kids get the education that they deserve and the things that they need to learn to be successful. It’s only right that they get compensated as such,” Lee said.
ABC10 reached out to Twin Rivers Unified and Washington Unified to ask what their plans are if teachers strike but have not received responses.
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