Teachers press for salary increase
La Cañada Unified officials announced Tuesday one probationary teacher will not be rehired for the upcoming school year, and small cuts will be made to high school ceramics and culinary arts classes, due to a lack of student interest.
The decisions come before a March 15 state deadline, by which school districts must finalize staffing commitments to best cover the 2016-17 school year. LCUSD Supt. Wendy Sinnette explained the trimming of four periods of ceramic arts and period of culinary arts was the result of enrollment that was too low. She said adjustments could be made if student interest in the programs changed.
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“We may see as the master schedule bears out if the numbers are sustained, and we may be able to rescind this,” Sinnette said. “But it’s a protection that’s guided by the deadline, which is the reason we’re putting this before you.”
Roughly 100 members of the La Cañada Teachers Assn. took advantage of Tuesday’s special meeting to voice concern over teacher salaries as members of the union’s bargaining team continue to negotiate with LCUSD officials over salary, benefits and aspects of the school calendar.
Wearing signature blue LCTA T-shirts, three appointed representatives spoke of the need for higher salaries to attract and retain high-quality educators to La Cañada and bring teacher earnings up to par with similar districts in the area.
La Cañada High School English teacher Tracey Calhoun referenced findings of a salary schedule survey conducted jointly by LCTA and the district, which showed beginning La Cañada Unified teachers earn roughly $47,429 annually, compared to Palos Verdes starting teachers’ $52,571.
The gap widens at the higher tenure and education levels, where LCUSD teachers top out at $90,720, compared to $95,749 at South Pasadena Unified School District and $100,423 at San Marino Unified.
“This impacts teachers both during our careers and in retirement,” Calhoun said. “A fair settlement will honor the work that educators do every day to continue to maintain the rigor required to be a top performing school. [It] also has the power of improving the low morale that is pervasive among our staff.”
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LCTA President Mandy Redfern said teachers have waited on the sidelines for years while the district weathered funding cuts from the state and relied on donations from the La Cañada Flintridge Educational Foundation to maintain staffing and programs, and they believe now is a good time to talk increases.
Yet despite more dollars coming in from the state to make up for past funding gaps and an increase in revenue of about $4.5 million since the 2014-15 school year, no funds in the recently approved 2015-16 second interim budget were set aside for teacher raises.
“(The increased revenue) is great news, but none of it is being spent on increases to the salary schedule,” Redfern said. “After years of being told to hold out for one more year and assurances that we are valued, the second interim budget leaves teachers feeling a little forgotten and unimportant.”
LCTA negotiations opened Feb. 4 and will continue as both parties engage in interest-based bargaining before finalizing an agreement.
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Sara Cardine, [email protected]
Twitter: @SaraCardine
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