OGSD Negotiations Update

We have completed 6 collaborative negotiations sessions with OGEA on the following dates: 1/29, 2/6, 2/25, 3/4, 3/18 and 4/1. We have 11 sessions scheduled in total, with the remaining five sessions scheduled in April and May.

We have reached tentative agreements on 4 articles of the Collective Bargaining Agreement:

• Article 1 Preamble: The district shares the goal of hiring employees whenever possible vs contractors. The district does have a legal obligation to meet the program and service needs of students with disabilities.OGSD will provide written notice and engage in a written agreement with OGEA when the district has a need to contract for special education services after all efforts have been made for recruitment and hiring of these positions

• Article 8 Leaves: OGSD expanded the language around bereavement leave to include more identified family members. The district also expanded language to include current reproductive loss leave in the CBA. Military and Legislative Leave of Absence language was also expanded by the district.

• Article 10 Evaluations: Timelines were updated to clarify when post observations conference should be held with teachers. More details were added to clarify the alternative evaluation process.

• Article 11 Transfers: Language was expanded by the district to give rights of return back to teachers within a twelve month period to teachers who were involuntarily transferred

These tentative agreements are subject to final approval and ratification by the Governing Board and OGEA members.

• Article 12 Compensation

• Article 13 Health and Welfare Benefits

• Article 14 Hours of Employment

• Article 15 Class Size

• Article 16 Safety Conditions

Thank you to all employees who have shared feedback regarding our medical benefits. We understand the impacts of increasing costs has opened interest in the district looking at other feasible options. We heard your desire to explore alternatives for a wider medical pool to help mitigate the impacts of benefits usage.

The District Benefits Committee has been hard at work, meeting five times from October through March. During these meetings, the committee engaged with five different Joint Powers of Authority (JPAs) to assess whether joining a broader pool for medical benefits could be a viable option for Oak Grove.

The committee deliberated and selected the top two JPAs for further consideration. These two JPAs presented more in-depth information to the committee in January. Following this, committee representatives shared detailed information and gathered additional feedback from their respective members to ensure priorities are well-represented.

After much deliberation and collaborative conversation, the District Benefits Committee will bring a recommendation to the Superintendent and Executive Team for the District to join the Alliance of Schools for Cooperative Insurance Programs (ASCIP) effective January 2026. Overall, the committee felt that ASCIP’s consistently low Kaiser premium increases, flexibility to allow for employee benefit opt-outs, comparable Kaiser plans and high level of personal touch and customer service made them the top choice. The Superintendent and Executive Team will review the committee’s recommendation and will start the process to bring a resolution to the Board of Trustees.

We want to extend our gratitude to the members of the District Benefits Committee for their dedication to this important work: Chuck Baylot, Bob Prola, Luis Velasquez, Carrie Newton, Tauvia Harrigan, Melina Nguyen, Mark Evans, Mark Lepori and Amy Boles.

Ongoing input and engagement are vital as we work together to secure the best options for our employees. Thank you!

What is a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and what are common misunderstandings?

In California, the state cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for school districts, part of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), is a percentage increase in funding designed to help districts offset rising costs and maintain purchasing power. A common misconception is that COLA is a direct percentage increase to the District's budget. COLA is applied to the state allocation for LCFF funding. From there it is broken down by districts based on enrollment, students who are social-economically disadvantaged, English learners, or foster youth. The distribution of the state increase is not a direct percentage increase to last year's Oak Grove LCFF allocation.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

What is the COLA?

• The COLA is a percentage increase in funding that the state provides to school districts to help them cover rising costs of operation, including salaries, benefits, supplies, and other expenses.

• The COLA is calculated based on the state's projected increase in governmental expenditure price increases from one year to the next.

• The COLA is part of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), which is the primary way the state funds K-12 education.

• The COLA is announced in January, adjusted in May, and finalized with the budget.

• It's important to remember that the COLA is an adjustment to the statewide contribution to LCFF not a direct increase to Oak Grove's LCFF funds from last year.

Common COLA Misconceptions

• A common misconception is that the COLA is a direct increase in teacher or staff salaries. While COLA funding can be used to help cover salary increases, it's not automatically translated into a salary raise for everyone.

• While all districts receive the same percentage COLA increase, the actual amount of funding each district receives varies based on factors like student demographics, along with enrollment and average daily attendance. (Property tax is not relevant to COLA).

• The COLA is just one part of the LCFF, and districts also receive funding from other state, local and federal sources.

• COLA is a guarantee, but Prop 98 can be suspended by the legislature if revenues do not allow it. This could lower or eliminate COLA.

Key Takeaways

• The COLA is a crucial component of the state's funding for K-12 education in California.

• It's designed to help districts offset rising costs, not to guarantee salary increases.

• District budgets are complex and influenced by multiple factors, not just the COLA.

Not all school districts receive the same level of funding. In California, school districts are funded through the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), which is based on the number and needs of the students they serve. Due to this model, Oak Grove School District does not receive as much funding as some of our neighboring districts.

Understanding School Funding: Basic Aid vs. LCFF

In California, school districts are funded through the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) or as Basic Aid Districts, depending on local property tax revenue.

• Basic Aid Districts operate differently. When property tax revenue in these districts exceeds the amount they would receive under LCFF, they keep the surplus funds. In addition to this extra property tax revenue, Basic Aid Districts receive funding through the Education Protection Account (EPA) and are guaranteed a minimum level of State Aid.

• LCFF Districts receive state funding based on the number of students they serve, with additional funds allocated to support students with greater needs. Districts with a high percentage of English learners, low-income students, and foster youth receive Concentration Grant funding. This provides critical resources to address educational inequities.

• LCFF Districts Without Concentration Funding serve fewer high-need students, meaning they receive less additional state support. As a result, their budgets may be more limited compared to both Basic Aid districts and LCFF districts with concentration funding.

These differences in funding models create disparities, impacting the resources available for student programs, staff, and facilities.

Did you know?
Basic Aid Districts actually receive more funding per student when their enrollment decreases.

Some nearby Basic Aid Districts include:

• Santa Clara Unified

• Saratoga Union

• Los Gatos Union

• Palo Alto Unified

• Cupertino Union

• Campbell Union

• San Jose Unified

Understanding these differences helps explain why districts like Oak Grove face funding challenges compared to our neighboring communities.

Ever wonder how each dollar in the Oak Grove School District's general fund is spent? Out of the 2024-2025 total general expenditures of $162,556,963, the largest portion 35.6% goes directly to Certificated Salaries, supporting our teachers and administrators. Pensions, Health and Welfare, and Statutory Benefits make up another 24.2%, while Classified Salaries account for 13%, covering the vital work of support staff across our campuses. The remaining funds are distributed among Services & Operating Expenditures (17%), Other Outgoing/Indirect Costs (8.8%), Books & Supplies (4.7%), with small portions going to Capital Outlay and Debt Service (each at 0.1%).

State funding increases are designed to help districts offset many rising costs and budgetary pressures.

Declining Enrollment
School Districts are funded based on enrollment and attendance. When enrollment declines, districts see less funding. Oak Grove School District schools are facing declining enrollment.

COLA
When enrollment and attendance decline, our COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) increase is applied to a smaller number of students, meaning that the dollar for dollar amount we receive may actually go down from year to year.

Rising Inflation

While the state typically gives districts a COLA each year, increases often do not keep pace with the speed of rising costs. Additionally, districts must also cover other rising costs like health benefits and CalSTRS & CalPERS Retirement, which has increased 239% in the last decade.

Expiring COVID Funds

As one time pandemic -related state and federal funding sources begin to expire, school districts must balance budgets based on enrollment and attendance. School districts will once again need to practice careful budgeting to operate within their means to face difficult decisions.