Happy days unexpectedly have returned for Culver City teachers bare weeks after they were feeling besieged by dozens of budget-driven layoffs.
The 300-plus members of the Teachers Union in the School District are scheduled to ratify a new one-year contract on Thursday afternoon that packs a rainbow of shiny surprises.
A 1% pay raise and
A significant policy change that will allow teachers to be evaluated on a more relaxed 5-year schedule rather than the present every-other-year concept.
In a reaction that is believed to be unprecedented, Teachers Union President David Mielke told the newspaper this afternoon he was stunned by the sudden generosity of the School District.
“Given the budget problems, we were not expecting a raise at all,” he said. “But at our last negotiation session, the District offered 1 %.”
Aggressively with vigor, Mr. Mielke said “yes” before Supt. Dr. Myrna Rivera Cote and Asst. Supt. David El Fattal punctuated the end of their sentences.
District officials explained that for the second consecutive year they had received back an overpayment in the range of $1.2 million. “Our first reaction ,” said Mr. Mielke, “was, ‘Let’s split this over several years as if it is ongoing money.’”
Besides the portion funneled into pay hikes, another chunk was channeled toward the rehiring of some of the 42 teachers who originally had been laid off this spring. “Can you believe that almost all of the 42 have been brought back?” the Union president exclaimed. “This is so unusual, I still can’t believe that we are getting a raise in the midst of all of the teacher layoffs.”
Credit Goes to Two Parties
Mr. Mielke sprayed bouquets of credit in two directions. Lavishly, he commended Dr. Cote for creating a “significantly more pleasant negotiating environment than existed before she came to Culver City. In the old days, we had to go to war, even when the District had money. Can you imagine getting a raise this year?”
Mr. Mielke directed his second compliment toward the School Board, a sentiment not previously heard in this century.
“You cannot overestimate the importance of electing teacher-friendly members to the School Board,” he said, referring to Scott Zeidman and Steve Gourley, whom voters placed on the Board last November.
“The whole atmosphere around here has changed,” marveled Mr. Mielke, in his 20th year as Teachers Union president.
A Bonus
The cherry on Mr. Mielke’s cake this month is that by dint of being voted “Culver City High School Teacher of the Year,” he will address seniors at their graduation at 6 o’clock on Friday, June 20. He is excited.
He teaches a 12th grade elective, psychology/sociology and 9th grade health.
