Subject: Negotiations Update & Commitment to Transparency

Dear AUSD Certificated Staff,

As Superintendent, I want to personally reaffirm our commitment to creating a school community where respect, collaboration, and open dialogue guide everything we do. As we continue negotiations with ATA, we remain committed to open communication, fairness, and responsible financial stewardship. These discussions have a direct impact on all of us, and we want to ensure you have the latest and most accurate information. 

On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, we began labor negotiations with ATA with the expectation that discussions would be conducted with professionalism, mutual respect, and a shared focus on what matters most—our students and staff. To that end, we proposed agreed-upon norms and ground rules. ATA declined our proposed norms and ground rules, but expressed confidence that negotiations would be conducted in a professional manner.

We recognize that negotiations can be complex and that information may sometimes be shared without full context. To ensure transparency, we are committed to providing timely and accurate updates on the process, timeline, budget, and key items being negotiated. You can stay informed by checking our regularly updated Labor Relations page, where we post details after each session. Over the past few days, we have carefully reviewed and analyzed ATA’s proposal, including a detailed cost assessment, which is included in the presentation.

Understanding AUSD’s Financial Landscape

This year’s negotiations are particularly significant. Over the past two years, AUSD has provided the largest salary increases in San Diego County for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. While these well-deserved raises reflect our deep appreciation for our educators and staff, they, along with rising operational costs, have placed significant financial strain on the district. In fact, while AUSD received a 9.29% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) over the last two years, total compensation increases have totaled 19.88% during that same time (this is more than double the COLA) —a level of spending that is unsustainable moving forward without cuts.

It is also important to recognize that AUSD remains one of the lowest-funded school districts in California:

• AUSD ranks 36th out of 42 districts in San Diego County, making it one of the least funded in the region.

• AUSD ranks 811th out of 939 districts statewide, placing it in the bottom 14% of all California districts.

• 86% of all school districts across the state receive more funding than AUSD, highlighting the financial challenges we face.

Our priority remains balancing competitive compensation with long-term financial stability, ensuring we can continue to support students and staff without compromising essential programs.

Statewide Salary Comparisons: The Need for Context

ATA has compared salaries using statewide data, which is not an apples-to-apples comparison. Their approach includes Basic Aid districts—wealthy communities such as Beverly Hills, Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Mountain View, San Mateo, etc…—where homeowners contribute significantly more in local property taxes. For perspective, homeowners in these Basic Aid districts pay an average of $22,419 per student in property taxes—$17,814 more than in Alpine. If Alpine homeowners contributed at that level, AUSD would receive $26 million more in funding—a massive difference that distorts salary comparisons.

Comparing Total Compensation: A More Accurate Approach

We provided ATA with data comparing AUSD’s total compensation (salary + benefits) to various school district groups, as it reflects the full financial investment made in employee salaries and benefits. This is the standard used in bargaining, impasse, and fact-finding, making it the most reliable metric for meaningful comparisons. The analysis includes comparisons with:

1. Small School Districts: AUSD is one of 15 small school districts in San Diego County (ADA of 2,500 or less).

2. East County School Districts: AUSD is part of 13 East County school districts.

3. Lowest-Funded Districts: AUSD is among the 14 lowest-funded districts in San Diego County.

4. All San Diego County School Districts: AUSD is one of 42 districts in the county.

Despite our funding challenges, AUSD remains ABOVE or comparable to the average in total compensation across each of these groups. This demonstrates that even as one of the lowest-funded districts, we have prioritized competitive compensation for our educators. You can see the comparisons in the attached slides.

1. Compared to small school districts AUSD ranks 2nd in beginning teacher total compensation, 4th in maximum step total compensation, and 5th in 20 year earnings. 

2. Compared to East County school districts, AUSD ranks 3rd in beginning teacher total compensation, 5th in maximum step total compensation, and 6th in 20 year earnings. 

3. Compared to the lowest funded districts, AUSD ranks 6th in beginning teacher total compensation, 8th in maximum total step compensation, and 9th in 20-year earnings. 

4. Compared to ALL San Diego school districts AUSD ranks 15th in beginning teacher total compensation, 20th in maximum step total compensation and 26th in 20 year earnings.

Click here to review the data on the four comparisons. 

Financial Impact of ATA’s Proposals

The most recent proposals from ATA would add $4,553,196 in ongoing costs, which would necessitate eliminating positions and negatively impact our school community and our ability to serve students effectively. These are difficult realities we must consider carefully as negotiations continue. These costs account only for ATA. However, due to CSEA’s equity clause, which guarantees the same percentage increase, the total costs would rise significantly.

Student Achievement Data

During negotiations, we also shared student performance data, providing comparisons to similar socio-economic schools, other districts within San Diego County, and schools across the state. These data points serve as a crucial indicator of our progress and underscore the importance of making informed, strategic decisions that support both our educators and the academic success of our students. Maintaining a strong foundation for student achievement must remain a central focus as we navigate this process.

Click here to review the student achievement data.

School Calendar Update

We are also working to finalize the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school calendar. AUSD provided ATA with a draft 2025-26 calendar 15 months ago (October 2023). Finalizing the calendars are crucial for staff planning, families, and district operations. We remain hopeful for a timely resolution so we can move forward with scheduling.

Next Steps & Staying Informed

I encourage you to review the attached presentation, which contains detailed slides on AUSD’s financial landscape, salary comparisons, and negotiation updates. We remain available to answer any questions, and we expect to confirm the next negotiation date in the coming days.

Thank you for your dedication, professionalism, and commitment to our students. We appreciate your engagement in this process and will keep you informed every step of the way.

Click here to view the full presentation shared with ATA, which includes a detailed cost analysis of their proposal.

Rich Newman, Ed.D.
Proudest Superintendent on Earth
Alpine Union School District 
The Destination District of East County