The Canyons Board of Education and the Canyons Educational Support Professionals Association have reached a tentative agreement for the 2012-2013 school year that will give ESP employees an increase in base pay in addition to steps and lanes, and a one-time 1 percent bonus. These are some highlights of the tentative agreement:
 

• 1 percent Cost of Living Adjustment to the base salary schedule
• 1 percent one-time bonus, to recognize the hard work of ESP staff in implementing changes in Canyons School District over the past three years
• Unfreezing of the salary schedule, with Steps and Lanes for the 2012-2013 year
• No increase in the cost of health insurance premiums

 
The Board and Association also tentatively agreed on some proposals to study several policies for the purpose of bringing recommendations to the Board of Education for consideration. Committees will be formed to study and make recommendations on transportation issues (specifically policies that may be needed to ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations), DP369 (which has been on moratorium status since the beginning of Canyons School District), and the salary schedule (to determine how it might be revised to reflect the intent of SB 64, which will require advancements on public school salary schedules to be based on employee evaluations).
 
Any substantial additions or revisions to these policies (above and beyond routine statutory updates) will be done according to the Board’s approved policy process and submitted to the Board for final consideration and approval.
 
Canyons Educational Support Professionals Association President Gary Martensen, speaking on behalf of CESPA, and Superintendent David Doty, speaking on behalf of the Canyons Board of Education, stated: “We are very pleased with the collaborative nature of this year’s negotiations, and look forward to working together in the coming year as we make final preparations for grade reconfiguration and provide the support our educators and students need to make this transition successful in 2013.”
 
The Canyons Educational Support Professionals Association submitted the tentative agreement to its members on May 17, 2012, and the Board of Education is expected to ratify by the end of the school year.