Buellton schools, teachers agree
Teachers and the Buellton School District have reached
agreement on a new 3-year contract that includes a retroactive benefits package
as well as a modest salary increase.
An increase in benefits will
be retroactive to February.
Negotiations between the Buellton School District and
teachers have concluded with agreement on a 3-year contact that provided
increased benefits retroactive to February 2008.
The increase to the teachers will be a 2.5 percent pay
raise, and
insurance caps will increase from $6,800 to $7,500. Teachers who have insurance through a spouse
will be allowed to “opt out” of the coverage, according to school superintendent
Tom Cooper.
“Any real increase that the state gives … that isn’t taken
back or deferred, is what we’ve pledged to give to them in those years,” said
Cooper, referring to the three years of the contract.
When asked what the negotiations were like, Cooper said
that it wasn’t pleasant. “I’m glad it’s over and done with and we got a
three-year deal…it wasn’t pleasant,” he said.
Teacher Ron Zell, whose music program was a school board
agenda item for removal a few weeks ago, was the negotiator for the teachers
and characterized the process as being “very contentious.”
“Budget priorities at the district have changed and
teacher’s salaries were not considered … now if the state gives 5 percent more
it goes to the teachers,” said Zell.
According to Zell, for the past five
years if the district had received a 5 percent increase from the state only two
percent went to the teachers and three percent into the general fund.