Athletics
Priorities, equity, and excellence.
Once we are union, we will be able to negotiate a union contract that maintains and protects what we currently have and locks in needed improvements that will maximize support for our students and our colleagues. Unlike the Faculty Senate—which is advisory only—as ACE, we will have a real seat at the table. That means a voice for all of our colleagues—from SPED educators, to Psychologists, and Coaches.
Union Coaches have won huge victories through their unions
- Stronger stipends for coaches and assistants. With a union contract, these stipends can’t be changed or taken away without our agreement.
- Discretion over setting schedules that make sense for athletic programs; adequate substitutes so teachers/coaches can attend sporting events on time.
- Additional resources to support student athletes and sports programs to help students and coaches excel and win.
More examples of union victories for coaches
- Negotiate professional development funds that enable coaches to attend conferences in the off season.
- Work with administration to ensure successful sports programs are an integral part of an equitable education for all students, including access to facilities.
“Our union advocates and negotiates for coaches, they are a part of our contract. Wages are negotiated. It used to be that coaches were paid at the end of the season; when teams went into the playoffs the district didn’t want to pay coaches until playoffs were over meaning coaches who were successful would have to wait until the end of another month to get paid. Our union leadership went to the district to represent the coaches and helped the district to understand that coaches would be paid at the end of the regular season.” — Maribeth Kelly, Middle School Science, Teacher and Girls’ Basketball Coach, Cloverdale Unified School District
“As an athletic director, there aren’t many of us in Sac City Unified, but we have a real voice in our union. In our last negotiations we were able to increase our stipend by over $15,000 annually. That never would have happened without a union.” — Rob Feickert, coach and teacher for 24 years in Sacramento City Unified School District
The Spirit of Competition
In Clovis we believe in high standards and that competition is a great way to motivate our students. Athletics and competition also teach our students to build their strengths and learn how to work in groups – a key skill for lifelong success.
Coaches need a voice regarding professional development (many conferences occur in the off season), equitable student access to successful sports programs, competitive stipends, setting schedules that make sense for athletic programs and ensuring adequate support and funding of all programs. Once we have a union, we will be able to bargain a strong contract that maintains and protects what we currently have and can lock in needed improvements that will maximize support for CUSD’s exemplary athletics program.
Related FAQs
Why are Clovis Educators unionizing?
Clovis unified educators are unionizing to ensure a strong voice in decisions that impact our students, schools, and professions. By establishing the Association of Clovis Educators, we can negotiate a union contract that can ensure that Clovis educators have a meaningful say in decisions that impact our classrooms, improve pay and benefits, help cut down on turnover, address work/life balance and establish job security. Having a strong voice in decisions is critical when decisions are being made about the health and welfare of our students, colleagues and school communities. Together, we can ensure Clovis Unified prioritizes people over programs.