1. Settlement Agreement Between Vista Unified School District and Vista Teachers Association
Marking A Positive Beginning To A New Relationship
A bargaining session that began early last Friday morning ended over 13 hours later, and this marathon
session yielded a remarkable two-year agreement between the Vista Unified School District (VUSD) and
the Vista Teachers Association (VTA), which will help the District save the necessary $8.3 million to
remain fiscally solvent.
Guided by the shared interest of protecting service to students, both parties agreed to two furlough
days this school year and four next year, which will save the District $2.7 million, and class size flexibility,
which will help save the District $5.6 million. In all, the Union's concessions will save the District $8.3
million in the next two years.
"For many reasons, this agreement is in the best interest of the students we serve and our employees,
and I am grateful to the Union leadership for its tireless commitment to bring this bargaining session to
a positive close," said Superintendent of Schools, Devin Vodicka. "Together, we took a close look at the
harsh reality of the State budget and faced the bold and necessary steps to help keep our District
financially stable. Now, we can return our attention to students' education."
According to Barbara Franklin, the President of VTA, “The VTA leadership has worked hard to maintain
lower class sizes for our students. We are committed to the best interests of our students. Our members
are relieved that in these difficult financial times our membership will make concessions but be able to
protect the integrity of class size protections. While losing days of instruction is difficult for quality
education, we have a plan to restore them and hopefully we can bring back those vital days of school.”
Like all districts throughout California, VUSD needed to bargain with two distinctly different scenarios in
mind, one scenario if the November tax initiative fails and the other if it passes. The agreement outlines
$8.3 million in necessary savings and an additional gouge of $9.9 if the Governor's November tax
initiative fails.
To accomplish this two-pronged plan, the parties agreed to both worst-case scenario cuts and
restoration plans should the initiative pass. The key terms of the agreement include:
 Two-year agreement for school years 2012-13 and 2013-14.
 Two furlough days in the 2012 -13 school year, and four in the 2013 -14 school year, if the tax
initiative passes.
 Contingency language allowing the District to reduce up to 11 additional school days in each of
the two years, if the tax initiative fails.
 The parties agreed to flexibility in grades 1 -3; hold class size averages schoolwide at 25; and a
hard cap of 27 per class. Class sizes will remain as they have been in all other grades, including
middle and high school, for the duration of the agreement.
 Restoration of furlough days in the event that the unrestricted fund balance from 2011-12 is
higher than projected and/or if unrestricted revenues improve beyond current projections.
August 6, 2012

2. "I am deeply grateful to the Union leadership for having this discussion with us, and for agreeing to this
change," stressed Dr. Vodicka. "It is a privilege to lead in a district where our teachers are willing to
make personal sacrifices so that we can maintain reasonable class sizes in a time of significant financial
challenges. In spite of our economic difficulties, I am looking forward to a continued focus on what is
best for students as we work together.”
Next steps include a ratification vote by the VTA members, review by the County Office of Education,
and presentation for approval from the VUSD Board of Education on August 16, 2012.
August 6, 2012