Teachers ask for salary increase

 

Claiming salaries are not keeping pace with the cost of living, teachers in the Buellton Union School District are set to continue contract negotiations on Jan. 30 at a meeting with the Buellton Board of Education.

During a board meeting Jan. 16 at Jonata Middle School Library, teachers, parents and administrators met to discuss policy and budget items, including salary and benefit issues that are being negotiated.

Contract negotiations have been ongoing since the end of October, according to Ron Zell, Buellton Education Association president.

He said the union received an offer for a two percent raise with no additional health benefits, which is “embarrassing,” because now the district salaries and benefit packages are lower than all the districts in the county.

 

Five years ago, he said, they were among the higest.

The board, meanwhile, voted 5-0 to declare that the district was in a fiscal emergency, and that the emergency could impact the negotiations on Jan. 30.

Zell’s remarks were given during the public comments at the board meeting. He added that he couldn’t imagine a better place to work and that he was proud to be affiliated with the fine teachers at Oak Valley and Jonata Middle schools, but that teachers should not be considered last when budget priorities are determined.

 

Another teacher, Kelly Carter, said it is good to receive recognition from students and parents, but that these do not pay the bills. Kathleen Tribble described her dilemma as a teacher going on maternity leave and the reduction in pay that will bring as she tries to support her family.

Lisa Russell said she felt she has been a financial afterthought and that she was upset with herself for “settling for less” than what she was worth.

She also questioned the need for two full-time principals in such a small district. Currently Patricia Garrett is principal at Jonata, and Joel Williamson is principal at Oak Valley. The district has 700 students.

Board members and trustees also gave remarks during the meeting.

 

Trustee Jon Macaluso said district spending is limited by the state budget and that the limit does not allow for 100 percent health insurance payments. Julie Everett, board president, said the board will do the best it can with the funds it is allocated, and that teachers are not considered “leftovers.”

District Supt. Tom Cooper said teachers have asked for full-time principals at both schools and that more teachers were hired to maintain small class sizes in the district.

In addition, the district helps fund the Santa Ynez Valley Special Education Consortium, which is a partnership between five school districts in the area. It was formed in November 2004 and now has Walter Olsen as director.

 

The organization assists the districts with programs, staff and other services, which initially went through Santa Barbara County’s education office. Reacting to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent announcement that the state’s education budget would be cut, Cooper said the district could lose as much as $40,000, or $60 per student, this budget year if the cuts go into effect. The cuts could include a hiring freeze, he added.

In other matters, the board agreed, 5-0, to consider a policy change for advertising job openings. Zell, speaking for the union, said the changes need to reflect wording that would attract quality teachers.

Cooper recommended the change in the policy to allow more avenues of advertising.

The next board meeting will be Feb. 13 at the school library, 301 Second St., at 7 p.m.