School district,
teachers reach agreement
By John Loesing
Acorn Staff Writer

The Las Virgenes Educators Association voted reluctantly this week to accept a 10 percent salary hike on behalf of the 600 teachers in Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD).

Saying LVUSD teachers are paid less than neighboring school districts, only 75 percent of the teachers voted in favor of the plan, which calls for the raise beginning in February.

The LVUSD raise falls below Oak Park Unified School District, whose teachers received a 10.98 percent increase.

"If [the school district] hadn’t overspent in special education, the 10 percent would have been retroactive. In reality this is a 5 percent raise," said Sandra Pope, LVEA president.

The $2.55 million teacher package, which includes an increase in health benefits, bigger bonuses for years of service, and a raise in beginning and ending salaries, comes on the heals of last summer’s $2 billion boost given to California schools because of the expanding economy.

But with its budget already in the red due in part to higher than expected special education costs, LVUSD attempted to hold the line on teachers.

"I don’t mind paying for special education, but not out of my salary," Pope said.

"That’s why the teachers in the Las Virgenes district are agitated. We produce the API [school performance rankings] and we’re still getting paid less that the other districts."

Although budget reserves will be met, LVUSD still plans on operating in the hole during three of the next five years, according to Donald Zimring, assistant superintendent.

"We have the fiscal integrity for this year without question," Zimring said. "We have no reason to doubt the California economy is fine."

In September, the Los Angeles County Office of Education sent a letter to the school district warning not to overspend its budget, especially in special education.

LVUSD made $400,000 in budget cuts to make room for the teacher raises.

Pope said LVEA’s maximum salary of $70,590 after 26 years is lower than the Simi Valley and Conejo school districts, where teachers receive a similar amount without including anniversary increases.

The LVUSD beginning teacher salary increased from $32,600 to $37,000 under the agreement.

"Clearly a compromise was reached where we got at least part of what we wanted," Pope said.

The LVUSD Board of Education is expected to give approval to the plan at its Nov. 14 meeting.