[Editor’s Note: An update from the President of the Teachers Union to members.]
Friends:
There was good news and bad news at Thursday's bargaining session.
First, the good news. Due to some new STRS regulations, the County (which processes our payroll) is moving from a 10-month pay schedule to an 11-month pay schedule. Your first check next year will arrive on Sept. 1. I don't know about you, but this was good news for me!
Our understanding is that first check will not have all of the deductions that now appear on your checks. Those deductions, like union dues, will start with the Oct. 1 paycheck.
The bad news is that the teams are not close to a settlement. We've not had a salary increase since 2007. It has been even longer since we've had an increase to our health and welfare benefits. Our most recent proposal in this year's talks makes our modest salary and benefits proposals contingent on the passage of a revenue increase initiative in November and would not take effect until next January!
To us, this seems reasonable. If new money comes in – good. If it doesn't, those financial parts of the agreement don't go into effect.
We have told CCUSD that we need a response by next week. If there is not significant movement, we're prepared to declare “impasse” and seek the help of a state-appointed mediator.
The most recent report from LACOE (Los Angeles County Office of Education) shows that CCUSD, despite ranking 6th of 47 unified districts in Los Angeles County in state income per student, ranks near the bottom in terms of what it pays its school employees. Here are just a few examples of how some CCUSD employees' compensation compares with other districts:
• School psychologist: 39th of 47 districts in L.A. County
• School counselor: 41st of 47 districts
• Elementary principal: 39th of 47
• Middle school principal: 41st of 47
• High school principal: 40th of 47
• Middle school assistant principal: 38th of 47
• High school assistant principal: 40th of 47
• Beginning teacher: 43rd of 47
• Maximum teacher on schedule: 47th of 47
• Super max teacher (with longevity @ 25 years): 42nd of 47
Every other district is facing the same financial challenges we are, but somehow they're finding a way to maintain competitive compensation for their employees. What makes this even worse is that most other districts do not have the city support we have (through the Redevelopment Agency) nor the community support we get through our parcel tax.
Culver City school employees took nine furlough days over these past two years to help CCUSD through a crisis. Despite singing its usual “we're still in a crisis” song, CCUSD just gave a big raise to the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and extended the work year (to 12 months) for its Security Supervisor.
All we're asking is that they do a few things for us – if and only if a revenue measure passes this fall.
Board members may be reached at boardmembers@ccusd.org. The superintendent is at patriciajaffe@ccusd.org.
dave
