After a final negotiation session on April 21-22 that lasted over 17 hours, the months-long battle over teacher contracts in the Rocklin Unified School District has finally been settled.

The Rocklin Teachers Professional Association have negotiated with the Rocklin Unified School District over teacher salary and benefits, leaves, and class sizes.

“It was really tough,” said Colleen Crowe, and RHS teacher and the Bargaining Chairperson for the RTPA, “it’s very tough to . . . get movement on the other side by moving yourself.”

The changes in leaves are mostly just the expansion of language to accommodate blended or non-standard families, as well as expands reasons for leaves from “immediate family” to just “family.”

Additionally, another day of leave to be used at the teacher’s discretion was added, along with relaxed restrictions regarding these days.

There was also an agreement made to form a committee to discuss the policies regarding high class sizes, which will meet no later than October 1, 2015.

The biggest agreement, however, was about salary.

The biggest change is the 5% salary increase effective immediately and retroactively effective from July 1, 2014. This is a significant increase, and is accompanied by more increases.

Another 1% increase shall take effect on July 1, 2015, and that will be accompanied by a new class of pay for teachers’ salary schedule.

Teachers in the RTPA have their salaries decided based on a chart that runs the number of years of employment on the vertical axis (these are called Steps) and the additional units of educational training beyond the teacher’s B.A. on the horizontal axis (these are called Classes).

Previously, there were 25 years, or Steps, when a teacher’s pay could increase, and five classes of teachers. The changes taking place on July 1 will add a sixth Class for teachers with 75  units or more beyond their B.A. degree. Class VI salaries will be 1.75% higher than Class V salaries.

Teachers currently in Class V on steps 18-25 (teachers who are highly educated and have taught for at least 18 years) will automatically be grandfathered into Class VI.

This sixth Class is already present in many local school districts, and while there are some teachers who are hurt by this addition, there are others that will enjoy an increased salary.

“We have been, traditionally, not been in favor of [adding a Class], but some of our members really wanted it — especially with the grandfathering — and so, we tried to make it work” said Crowe, “It also is difficult because by adding a column, you’re basically saying to people ‘pay for your raise by buying more units.’ ”

Finally, the agreement outlines contingencies based on the number of teachers who enter this new Class and the federal and state funding the district receives. Both parties will review the implementation and review contracts for any additional changes that need to be made.

The overall ruling? “It’s positive. It’s not the best, but it’s definitely not the worst. In fact, five percent is very generous, and we do get that one percent starting in July,” said Crowe, “there are a lot of good things about it.”