Las Virgenes teacher talks break down

Sandra Smyser Contract negotiations between the Las Virgenes Educators Association and Las Virgenes Unified School District continue to deteriorate, with union representatives from 14 schools staging a demonstration at last week's board meeting to show the depth of their discontent.

The teachers' union is battling the district for higher teacher wages and added benefits.

Dan Stepenosky, LVUSD assistant superintendent of personnel, said the district's offer of a 6 percent raise would be effective on Jan. 1, 2007. Teachers want 3 percent of the pay hike to be retroactive to July, and also want an 8 percent increase in health and retirement benefits.

"It is virtually impossible to speak to a teacher in any surrounding district that has not only gotten a very significant salary increase this year, but is not paying out of pocket for medical expenses," said LVEA co-president Sandra Pope. "It makes it very difficult to hold our head high and be a proud teacher in Las Virgenes."

The negotiating teams met Oct. 26 but didn't come to an agreement. Superintendent Sandra Smyser said in a memo to employees following the meeting that the district refuses to raise medical benefits.

"The school board and I are aware of the membership's concerns associated with benefit costs," Smyser said. "However, money placed into the benefit plan, while helpful to many members, is not compensation that all members would gain, and the use of an IRC (Internal Revenue Code) 125 account means dollars spent on benefits can be done with pretax dollars."

"In no imaginable way will the district's offer keep our salary and benefits even in the same inferior position as compared to surrounding districts . . . ," said Paul Markowitz, LVEA's co-president.

Pat Brooks, a teacher at Agoura High School, said teachers are demonstrating their frustration.

"We must show a united front and not participate in any activity that is above and beyond the scope of our duty," Brook said. "Therefore we will not be participating in the California Distinguished School process until negotiations are moving in the right direction."

"We came here tonight in an attempt to get across to you the breadth and depth of the disappointment, anger and resolve of the educators of this district in getting a fair and just shake at the negotiation table," said Markowitz.

District says no to cuts

School board President Cindi Iser said claims that teachers are not valued are "simply not true." Employee compensation is the top priority for the district, Iser said. But the district is bound by legal restrictions, including the ability to sustain a budget for three years. Iser said the district refuses to "find money" by increasing class sizes or cutting programs.

Measure E, which voters approved last year, was meant to reduce class sizes and fund programs-but did not include teacher raises. Voters taxed themselves three times through measures R, E and G, amounting to $250 million, Iser said.

One of Iser's comments prompted a walkout of teachers and union representatives. Iser said such acrimony could be misunderstood by the community as "all of us are taking our eye off the ball, and that ball is our kids."

Underfunded mandates

Special education is a doubleedged sword in Las Virgenes. While officials are pleased with the model special education programs in the district, the unforeseen consequence of such high standards is that Las Virgenes outpaces neighboring districts in the sheer numbers of special education students enrolled.

The district said it has $10 million in expenses beyond what the state and federal government provide in funding.

"Special education is a legal and moral mandate and it is our privilege to serve these children well," board member Terilyn Finders said. "The problem is not special needs. The problem is this area of education is deeply underfunded by the state and federal governments."

While teachers blame the school district for not matching the salaries and benefits of neighboring districts, the school board and other officials are pushing state and federal governments to meet their financial responsibilities in special education.

Finders said that by law the district must offer preschool for children with autism. The government funds $190,000 for the program, but the actual cost is $1.3 million.

District disparity

Lack of special education funding is just one issue facing the Las Virgenes district. The Conejo Valley Unified School District- which LVEA officials hope to match in salaries and benefits- is much larger in size and receives an extra $7 million each year for children in need, according to district officials. Las Virgenes does not qualify for the extra funds.

Finders hopes the California Teachers Association and LVEA will join her in the fight for fully funded state and federal mandates.

"We need to work collaboratively to get more money from Sacramento and Washington, D.C.-that's where the fight is," Finders said. "I promise to lead the charge."

Both camps have filed for a permanent impasse. Stepenosky said he hopes to meet once more with LVEA before Thanksgiving.