The subject of teacher salaries was a contentious issue in Agoura this week in 1975. The Acorn reported on the Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Education meeting which several hundred teachers and residents attended to protest the board’s stand.

The school board had offered teachers a two percent salary increase during earlier negotiations, but teacher representatives rejected the increase as too low and walked out of the meeting.

The board responded by issuing a letter of explanation that sounded similar to problems facing education today. While recognizing the increase in cost of living expenses, the board pointed to the state’s lack of increased funding, the rising cost of employee healthcare covered by the district, and step increases for longtime employees. The letter pointed out that salary increases would result in an increase in the school tax rate, placing the burden on local residents who already had the highest tax rate in Los Angeles County.

The school board challenged the teachers to return to negotiations.

To commemorate the country’s upcoming bicentennial, local groups began planning celebrations. The board appointed a committee of students, parents, teachers and staff to develop local events. A 12 by 16 foot bicentennial flag was raised near Whizin’s Market by Agoura Boy Scout, Girl Scout and Brownie troops.

When the Whizin’s Market bell tower clock slowed by two minutes and the weather vane pointed in the wrong direction, some area residents were thrown off schedule. It took an 80 foot crane, three-and-a-half hours and several hundred dollars to correct the situation.

A.E. Wright School’s graduation ceremonies were extra special this week in 1975. Arthur E. Wright, for whom the school was named, turned 87 and was serenaded by the Agoura High School band.

—Sophia Fischer