April President's Message

Dear VTA Members,

I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing Spring Break.  Remember to wear your VTA shirts tomorrow, Tuesday April 12, when VTA and VUSD return to the bargaining table for negotiations.  We are bargaining Articles 12 (Salary), 13 (Benefits), 18 (Duty Hours), 20 (Class Size), and 30 (Special Education).  

What is the Cost of Living Increase (COLA)

The Cost of Living Adjustment, or COLA is money that is allotted to school districts from the State based taxes collected.  The COLA is applied to the general fund only, and many specific categories are not funded by the COLA. Transportation is an example of that, even though costs go up year after year.  It is not automatically given to the workforce, nor is intended to be used only for raises for employees.  

The anticipated COLA this year is 5.33%, and that was projected in January by the Governor.  We will know exact numbers when we get the May Revise, but that still has to be approved by the legislator.  We are expecting an even higher  COLA than projected in January but that is only speculation at this time. .  We will know for sure  when the Governor's Budget is finalized in June. How much of the COLA that transfers to salary and benefits need to be negotiated.

When it comes to comparative salaries of surrounding districts, we are in the top when compared to Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos, Poway, Escondido Union, and Encinitas for the  first 10 years, but we are not as competitive in the later years.  Your bargaining team and district are committed to keep Vista competitive.   We are  not facing a Reduction in Workforce (RIF’s), as other districts around us did this year and we are in a good place to come together around our common interests.  

The highest raise I have heard of so far is a 12% averaged over 3 years in Northern California. A 15% raise is unrealistic, and would bankrupt our district. Years ago, VUSD had reserves of over 20%, but that is not the case today.  Two years ago, our reserves were under the 3% school budget requirements, and we were on the verge of being taken over by the State. Today our reserve is about 7%. Districts around us have reserves over  20%.  

Save the Day April 30th
VTA has several opportunities on April 30 to come out and meet other members.  We will be having three events that day.  
Come out and do some community service with the Vista Rotary Club.  We will be picking weeds at the Veterans Wall in downtown Vista, by the baseball field at Vista Magnet Middle School.  This is a great way to give back to our community and meet our fellow colleagues.  This event is from 9 am to 12 pm. Please contact VTA’s office manager Lisa Ingles, if you have any questions info@vistata.org
Family Lunch at Joe’s Crab Shack at the Harbor from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm.  This is a family friendly event.  We will be providing appetizers and non alcoholic drinks.
Karaoke Night at Smitty’s Downtown from 7:30 - 10:30.  VTA will buy a drink for the first 10 people.
Please RSVP using the link below.  We look forward to meeting our fellow members.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEN8TR6BRxnKMUpL9XHwQnHAby21TE3PziNWduqG-ISYCHJw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Question of the Month
If you would like to be entered into this month’s raffle, please respond to the following question

If you could have a superpower what would it be?