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The Torrance Unified School District (TUSD) and the Torrance Teachers Association (TTA) had our first negotiation session this November 21, 2024, with the shared goal of fostering an equitable and collaborative agreement that supports the success of our students, the well-being of our educators, and the overall mission of our district. These discussions are a cornerstone of our commitment to maintaining a thriving educational environment that attracts and retains dedicated professionals while meeting the fiscal and operational needs of the district.

In accordance with Board Policy 4143/4243, Negotiations/Consultation, the Board of Education and/or the Superintendent or designee will provide periodic updates to the public regarding the progress of these negotiations. Transparency and community engagement are vital, and the District is committed to keeping stakeholders informed about developments, while adhering to any confidentiality agreements established between TUSD and TTA. These updates will emphasize how the negotiations align with and impact district goals, ensuring accountability and clarity throughout the process.

Both TUSD and TTA are dedicated to working in good faith, addressing key priorities, and reaching a mutually beneficial agreement that reflects the needs of our educators, students, and the broader Torrance community.

TORRANCE TEACHER ASSOCIATION AND TORRANCE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AGREEMENTS NOVEMBER 21, 2024 NEGOTIATION SESSION

The Torrance Teachers Association (TTA) and the Torrance Unified School District (TUSD) have successfully negotiated two key agreements designed to enhance teaching and learning while addressing operational needs. These agreements reflect a collaborative effort to improve working conditions for educators, increase instructional time for students, and promote equity across the district, creating positive outcomes for students, teachers, parents, and guardians.

The first agreement focuses on supervision duties for teachers assigned to multiple sites. Beginning January 7, 2025, these unit members will no longer be required to perform student supervision tasks, such as morning arrival, recess, nutrition, and after-school duties. Instead, these responsibilities will be equitably shared among teachers at each site, ensuring a fair distribution of workload. This change reduces stress and time constraints for traveling teachers, allowing them to dedicate more energy to their instructional roles. For students, the consistent presence of site-based staff in supervisory roles enhances safety and continuity. Parents and guardians can also feel confident that their children are being closely supervised in a structured and safe environment.

The second agreement addresses instructional time at the high school level. To meet California Department of Education (CDE) requirements, three Late Start days in the 2024-2025 school year will be converted to Regular School Days during the second semester. This adjustment adds a total of 147 instructional minutes, creating more opportunities for in-class learning. Individual high schools will select the dates for these changes in consultation with stakeholders, ensuring local input. By increasing classroom time, this change directly benefits students’ academic progress while maintaining a manageable number of Late Start days for teacher preparation and professional development. Parents and guardians also gain the assurance that the district is prioritizing their children’s education by aligning with state standards.

Together, these agreements highlight the shared commitment of TTA and TUSD to fostering an equitable, supportive, and high-quality educational environment. By addressing key challenges such as workload equity and instructional time, these measures ensure that students, educators, and families can thrive within the district’s schools.

TORRANCE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPOSALS TO TORRANCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION NOVEMBER 21, 2024

The Torrance Unified School District (TUSD) has proposed two significant updates to its collective bargaining agreement with the Torrance Teachers Association (TTA), aimed at aligning with evolving educational standards and promoting equity across grade levels. These proposals demonstrate the District’s commitment to supporting educators, enhancing instructional quality, and meeting state requirements while fostering a collaborative and equitable educational environment.

The first proposal focuses on amending class size and staffing for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) to comply with California Education Code requirements for a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio by the 2025-2026 school year. Under this plan, instructional aides would be added when class sizes exceed 10 students, ensuring compliance with state mandates while enhancing individual student attention and support. Additionally, the proposal lowers the threshold for class leveling to 20 students, ensuring manageable class sizes and optimizing instructional resources. These changes, set to take effect on July 1, 2025, provide ample time for professional development and resource planning. The benefits include better academic outcomes for students, improved teaching conditions for educators, and sustained compliance with state funding requirements.

The second proposal revises planning and preparation time for grades 4 and 5 to ensure equitable allocation across all elementary grades (TK-5). The proposal replaces outdated provisions tied to the now-defunct 20:1 student-teacher ratio and the Vocal Music Program, creating a more consistent approach to planning time. Staffing patterns for preparation time will be collaboratively developed by teaching staff and site administrators, preserving instructional time for students while ensuring fairness for educators. This update, also slated for implementation on July 1, 2025, aims to reduce workload disparities, support teacher collaboration, and promote fairness across school sites.

Together, these proposals address state mandates and equity concerns while reinforcing TUSD’s dedication to fostering a high-quality educational environment. By improving TK class size standards and ensuring consistent preparation time for elementary teachers, TUSD aims to create lasting benefits for students, educators, and the broader school community.

These proposals are still being negotiated and they have not been agreed upon.

SUMMARY OF NEGOTIATIONS NOVEMBER 21, 2024

Statement to the Community

The Torrance Unified School District (TUSD) is pleased to announce that during the first day of negotiations with the Torrance Teachers Association (TTA), we reached agreements on two major issues. These agreements reflect our shared commitment to fostering an exceptional educational environment for our students while supporting our dedicated educators.

Both TUSD and TTA are negotiating in good faith, maintaining a spirit of collaboration and partnership throughout this process. Our discussions are centered on addressing the needs of our schools and ensuring the best outcomes for our students, teachers, and the broader community.

We look forward to continuing these productive negotiations during our next scheduled session on December 3, 2024.

The District deeply values its partnership with the Torrance Teachers Association and remains committed to working together to uphold the high standards of education that the Torrance community expects and deserves. We thank you for your continued trust and support as we move forward in this collaborative effort.