News Update

Cotati-Rohnert Park teachers return to classrooms after 6-day strike

Teachers in the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District in Sonoma County returned to their classrooms Friday, after six-day strike over increased pay. Spring break begins Monday.

The Rohnert Park Cotati Educators Association, which represents more than 300 teachers, reached a tentative agreement with the district Thursday night, according to the district.

The three-year agreement begins this school year and includes a 6% pay raise for the current school year, with 3% ongoing pay retroactive to July 1, said Superintendent Mayra Perez in a letter to families. Next school year, teachers will get a 5% pay increase. They also will get a $2,000 one-time payment for the first year of the contract and a $1000 bonus in the second year. In the third year, there is an increase of 3.61% effective July 1, 2023, and if the cost of living adjustment is higher, the parties will meet to negotiate a split of the increase.

The teachers also agreed to work two emergency days a year without additional compensation if they are needed. The district will increase the extra duty rate to $40 per hour and increase the service credit for new hires to 20 years, Perez said.

The agreement must still be voted on by union members, Perez said.

During the strike, students attended school but were mostly supervised by administrators in auditoriums, according to media accounts.

“We think this agreement is a monumental shift for our district, which will prioritize teachers in the budget,” said the Rohnert Park Cotati Education Association on its Facebook page. “We cannot even begin to express our gratitude for all the amazing support from our community.”