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PEA Featured in California Educator Magazine!
Porterville Educators Association was featured in the September 2025 edition of California Educator Magazine (Volume 30, Issue 1).
Click here to access the magazine, and turn to page 42 to read the full article!
Preview from the article:
"The tension between the Porterville Educators Association and the Porterville Unified School District has continued this year, culminating in a series of protests and a formal declaration of impasse in contract negotiations. The dispute has placed teachers, administrators, and the wider Porterville community in a spotlight, with both sides presenting sharply different perspectives on fairness, accountability, and the future of local education.
On Thursday hundreds of Porterville teachers and supporters were at the PUSD office before and during a PUSD board meeting, filling the room in a show of solidarity. Another attempt at trying to become noticed by the PUSD board. The demonstration served as a protest against stalled contract talks and as a way to put pressure on district leadership. Many educators wore black shirts and carried fliers outlining their concerns, accusing district officials of mismanaging funds, silencing staff, and shortchanging students."
From the Article on September 10th, 2025
NEGOTIATIONS [bolded to show emphasis]
The district and PEA have been at an impasse since May. The next mediation session will be October 6. If no agreement is reached Nelson said there could be another mediation session or a state led fact-finding mission could be done which could lead recommendations for the PUSD board to consider. “We are still quite a ways apart,” Nelson said. “Hopefully we can can resolve our differences.”
A major sticking point is Article 34 in the contract which deals with disciplining teachers before dismissal. PEA has called for the removal of Article 34, stating it gives district administrators too much authority when it comes to disciplining teachers. But the district counters only nine teachers in the last six years have faced suspension under Article 34.
When talking about the need for Article 34 Nelson referred to the district recently having to pay $2 million in a settlement in a sexual abuse case that dated back to the 1980s.
Nelson referred to the district recently having to pay a $2 million settlement in a sexual abuse case that dated back to the 1980s, claiming it was the result of not having policies such as Article 34.
PEA Response
Before the start of impasse, the negotiation team was willing to modify Article 34 to include specific due process rights. If you want to read the specific transcriptions of the discussion, please click here!
Silent Protest!
Thursday, August 28th, 2025 news coverage from Univision 21 reporting about the Silent Protest from Porterville Educators Associations and other community members.
Silent Protest!
Thursday, August 28th, 2025 news coverage from Porterville Recorder reporting about the Silent Protest from Porterville Educators Associations and other community members.
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