To: Board of Supervisors
From: Monica Nino, County Administrator
Report Title: Side Letter to AFSCME, Local 1 for a Hiring and Retention Incentive
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT a resolution approving the Side Letter between Contra Costa County and AFSCME, Local 1, on behalf of its Community Services Bureau Unit and Community Services Bureau Site Supervisors Unit, providing for a hiring incentive for specified Head Start teaching staff in the Community Services Bureau.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This action will be funded with additional federal revenue of $2,773,200, which is 100% Federal funded by the Administration for Department of Health and Human Services - Children and Families (ACF). Additional revenue and expenditures will be reflected in future Appropriations and Revenue Adjustments.
BACKGROUND:
The core function of the County’s Head Start program is to provide services directly to students in a classroom setting. As is the case with many programs of its type, the County’s Head Start Program continues to have a high vacancy rate, hovering around 28%, which can lead to issues with service delivery.
The County is committed to taking measures to strengthen this program by ensuring that classrooms are filled with qualified staff who can provide services to children and families. The County is proposing a series of aggressive hiring and retention bonuses for CSB teaching staff. The incentive structure will apply to employees in the following classifications:
Associate Teacher-Project (CJW1)
Infant Toddler Master Teacher-Project (CJT2)
Infant Toddler Associate Teacher-Project (CJW2)
Infant Toddler Teacher-Project (CJN2)
Master Teacher-Project (CJT1)
Teacher-Project (CJN1)
Site Supervisor I - Project (CJH2)
Site Supervisor II - Project (CJG1)
Site Supervisor III - Project (CJF1)
Teacher-Project Substitute (CJN3)
Associate Teacher-Project Substitute (CJW3)
Teacher Assistant Trainee-Project (CJK1)
Under this Side Letter, new employees will be eligible for a hiring incentive of up to $6,000. Half of the amount will be payable upon hire and the other half will be paid following the completion of four months of service.
Current employees will be eligible to earn up to a total of $12,000 in retention incentives. The first $6,000 incentive will be paid on the November 10 pay warrant to individuals meeting the specified eligibility criteria. The second $6,000 payment will be made on the July 10, 2024 pay warrant for individuals who meet the specified service requirements.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The County will be unable to recruit and retain qualified teaching staff, which may jeopardize the County’s compliance with Head Start program requirements.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
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IN THE MATTER OF the Side Letter Agreement between the Contra Costa County and AFSCME, Local 1 on behalf of its Community Services Bureau Unit and Community Services Bureau Site Supervisors Unit, providing for a hiring and retention incentive.
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors acting in its capacity as the governing board of the County of Contra Costa RESOLVES THAT:
Effective upon adoption by the Board of Supervisors, the Side Letter of Agreement dated September 28, 2023 between Contra Costa County and AFSCME, Local 1 on behalf of its Community Services Bureau Unit and Community Services Bureau Site Supervisors Unit, regarding hiring and retention incentives for certain specified staff, be ADOPTED.
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