Novato Unified School District

We are pleased to announce that NFT and NUSD reached a Tentative Agreement at the conclusion of our negotiations session June 2, 2025.

The District and NFT agreed to an ongoing 2.3% increase to all Certificated Salary Schedules for the 2025-2026 school year.

Both teams would like to express our shared appreciation and gratitude as we continue working together in the spirit of collaboration and mutual respect.

• Thank you to the NFT negotiations team for their continued collaboration, professionalism, and dedication throughout this process. Their commitment to open and productive dialogue has been essential in moving our conversations forward in a positive and constructive manner.
• Thank you to the NUSD negotiations team, Superintendent and the Board of Trustees for their support of educators and certificated staff members. Their efforts to prioritize compensation and recognize the critical role educators play in student success have been deeply appreciated.
• We also extend our sincere thanks to NUSD administrators for their willingness to forgo a percentage increase in order to help make possible increases to the salary schedules for other staff. This act of solidarity reflects a strong commitment to supporting the broader educational community.

Together, we remain focused on reaching outcomes that honor the work of all employees and strengthen our shared mission of serving students and families across the district.

The NFT bargaining unit members will vote to ratify the Tentative Agreement reached today between the parties, and the NUSD Board will then formally approve the Tentative Agreement at their meeting on June 24, 2025.

On May 19, 2025, the parties exchanged a number of proposals, including those concerning salary and benefits. NUSD will respond to NFT’s last counter proposal on salary and benefits at the next meeting. Tentative Agreement was reached on the following article sections:
Article 12:1 Sick Leave (agreed to status quo)
Article 12:3 Personal Necessity
Article 16:3.5 Additional compensation for new Special Education teachers
NUSD provided NFT with a proposed MOU for an Evaluation Subcommittee in the 2025-2026 school year, and updated language for Article 9 regarding TK-5 class size/staffing. NFT will respond to these at the next meeting, which is scheduled for June 2, 2025.

The parties exchanged language proposals for Articles 3, 8, 9, 14 and 16. There was much discussion between the parties regarding the need for clearer definitions of class size and caseload in articles regarding Special Education unit members. NUSD provided NFT with information on Title I expenditures, class sizes for Early Intervention, Counseling Enriched and Social Cognition SDC classes and the history of District Nurse FTE allocations as requested. Tentative Agreement was reached on the following article sections:

• Article 3:2.5 NFT Release Time for Negotiations
• Article 8:2.3 Assessments
• Article 8:6.6 Missed Preparation Time
• Article 8:10 Travel Time (agreed to status quo)
• Article 14:6 Intent to Separate Stipend (agreed to status quo)
• Article 16:2 Comparable Districts (agreed to status quo)

NUSD presented an updated proposal for compensation and a counter-proposal for benefits. NFT will respond to these at the next meeting, which is scheduled for May 19, 2025.

The parties exchanged language proposals for Articles 3, 8, 9, and 16. Several questions were exchanged concerning the FTE allocation for School Psychologists and District Nurses. NUSD provided NFT with a copy of the current weekly schedule for Elementary Music Teachers as NFT had requested, as well as information on the cost of a 1% increase to salaries for Certificated, Classified, and Management staffing. NUSD countered many of NFT’s proposals for reduced class sizes. NFT requested from NUSD the Title I funds expenditures, the current class sizes for Early Intervention, Counseling Enriched and Social Cognition SDC classes, and a history of the FTE allocation for District Nurse staffing. The next negotiation session is scheduled for Monday, May 5, 2025.

The parties agreed that there is a mutual interest in reviewing at least the title of Article 6 – Probationary Certificated Employee Dismissal or Suspension Without Pay, but also agreed to set it aside for now pending both parties checking further with others. The parties discussed their interests regarding several articles, and reached agreement on updates to Articles 8:11, 12:10.4e, 12:12 and 16:4.1. The District responded to NFT’s initial proposal on Article 17 – Benefits. The next negotiation session is scheduled for Monday, April 14, 2025 following the Spring Break.

The parties met for a second negotiation session on Thursday, March 13, 2025. NUSD presented language proposals for Articles 3, 8, 9, 14 and 16 including a proposed increase across all salary schedules and removal of a Step from Teacher and Counselor salary schedules effective July 1, 2025. NFT presented language proposals for Articles 7, 8, 9, 12, and 16 including a salary increase counter proposal effective for the 2025-2026, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years as well as the removal of multiple Steps in 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027-2028. NFT also submitted their proposal for Article 17 – Benefits. NFT shared with NUSD their interest to schedule a meeting of the Salary Equity Committee identified in the contract. The parties agreed to new language for Article 7:1.2 regarding placement of the New Teacher Orientation Day. The parties agreed upon the following future negotiation session dates: March 28, April 14 and May 5, 2025.

The parties met for a first negotiation session on Friday, January 31, 2025. Each team reviewed their reopener items, and the interests associated with them, as well as any interests associated with the other team’s reopeners. The parties agreed to NUSD’s proposal for minimum day placement related to Back-to-School and Open House events for 2025-2026. The next negotiations session is scheduled for Thursday March 13th.