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Teachers have mixed reaction

By Raiza Canelon/Staff Writer/rcanelon@syvnews.com

Unionized teachers at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School say they were treated fairly by district administrators during recent contract negotiations, despite having to forgo most raises and pay more for their health insurance.

But they are looking forward to the coming school year, and are hoping to play a larger role in guiding the district in the future.

“I feel this year’s negotiations brought us together more as a unit,” said Jeff McKinnon, co-president of the district’s Faculty Association. “We know what’s at stake and are aware of the financial struggle our district, like all districts, is facing.

“However, we’d like to have more of a voice in how fiscal priorities are set in the future.”

The association last month ratified the pact, which runs through the coming school year and calls for no increase in salary as a whole. It does include “step-and-column” increases based on experience and training for employees who have been with the district for five to 25 years.

They will receive their annual 2-percent adjustments for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years.

The district’s board of trustees approved the agreement last week.

The district also will contribute $11,628 per employee toward health insurance next year, which is a decrease from the current rate but more than the contracted minimum of $6,072 per employee, according to Superintendent Paul Turnbull.

“We are still offering a good packages to the teachers, and we are pay-ing more than the contracted minimum, which is key because of the economy,” Turnbull said. “We haven’t seen numbers this low since the Great Depression. We are trying to treat all our employees as best as possible.”

McKinnon noted that the contracted minimum hasn’t been changed since 2002-03, and the district last year contributed more than $13,000 per employee.

“Yes, they will be covering $11,628 per employee, this is roughly $1,200 less, or $149 per month out-of-pocket, if we wish to maintain the coverage we have now,” McKinnon said. “We are not unhappy to have affordable options, but nobody is happy to have both salary and benefits devalued in the same year

McKinnon added that while teachers are getting their annual step increases, they aren’t receiving any cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which is estimated to have increased 5 percent since 2007-08.

“So yes, employees have had a 2-percent adjustment built into our schedule, but have taken a “reduction” on their contract by not getting COLA for this year or next,” McKinnon said. “That means a decrease, less spending power on our dollar, at a time when we’re expected to pick up part of the tab on our health benefits.”

Despite the outcome, McKinnon said, the association believes its members were treated fairly and openly throughout the long negotiation process.

“Mr. Turnbull treated the Faculty Association with respect and conducted the negotiations with dignity,” McKinnon said.

Morale for next school year is low because of layoffs, McKinnon said, but most teachers see the situation as an opportunity and a challenge.

“Human lives are being profoundly and negatively impacted, especially those of students, school employees and their families,” McKinnon said. “But we are professionals, and I don’t know a teacher who isn’t excited to start a school year.”

July 3, 2009