After the 11 bargaining sessions over more than a year, the Pasadena Unified School District and the United Teachers of Pasadena reached a tentative agreement following their latest session Friday, May 23 – a milestone at the district, which has been looking to stave off the financial impacts of declining enrollment amid the costs of the Eaton fire.

The agreement, which will be in effect until June 30, 2027, is pending approval from the Board of Education and ratification by the union.

According to PUSD, the parties reached agreements on: association rights, hours, leaves, class size, salary, health and welfare benefits, child development programs, teacher on special assignment and special education.

UTP President Jonathan Gardner said keys victories secured in negotiations included adding health plan options for all members, getting more flexibility for members taking leave and a substantial pay increase for child development teachers.

“It took a long time for us to get here,” Gardner said. “It shouldn’t be taking this long to get some of the basic things we’re asking for.”

Gardner said the contract agreement is a three-year successor agreement because members have been working throughout negotiations as if the expired contract was still in place.

The agreement comes at the end of a tumultuous school year in PUSD. The Eaton fire damaged or destroyed five school campuses and the district approved cuts to teaching and staff positions with more expected in the coming years due to financial struggles.

Gardner said UTP pushed for but were ultimately unable to reach an agreement with the district on class size caps, adequate planning time allotted for elementary and middle school teachers and more support and protection for special education teachers.

UTP members have been a consistent presence at recent Board of Education meetings both protesting outside the district office and taking over the meeting room calling for a contract agreement and for the district to rescind all proposed layoffs.

In a statement, the district said that the agreement with the union will not create further negative impacts to the district budget.

Salary increases for preschool teachers included in the agreement will be funded by federal dollars marked for child development programs, according to PUSD.

At the May 22 Board of Education meeting, Chief Business Officer Saman Bravo-Karimi said Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed state budget includes a decrease to the cost of living increase which will result in less revenue for PUSD.

The district will be submitting a fiscal stabilization plan along with its 2025-26 fiscal year budget to the Los Angeles County Office of Education.

Gardner said voting to ratify the contract will begin this Friday. If approved, the union will survey members this fall about their priorities moving forward.

“We always have to make sure that we’re responsive to the will of the 830 folks that we represent,” Gardner said.