On March 24, Diamond Bar High School staff members started wearing black t-shirts on Tuesdays to show support for the union in negotiations with the Walnut Valley Unified School District over teacher payment issues, raising awareness and bringing attention to the issue.

Four weeks later, a tentative agreement has been reached between the Walnut Valley Educators Association and the WVUSD on April 20, which was announced to teachers via email from Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor. The negotiating team will be voting on April 23, to decide if the agreement will be sent to the rest of the union members.

“The Negotiating Team feels that this is a fair deal addressing compensation for the 14/15 school year and the Grade Span Adjustment plan,” teacher Salli Collins said via email.

Following negotiations, the district has agreed to a 2.3% salary increase, which adds on to a 2.5% salary increase that was enacted last spring.

Along with the agreement on the salary increase, the district also announced plans to gradually decrease K-3 class-size averages. These reductions will begin at once, until class sizes will get to 24 students per teacher, on average, over the next five school years.