SPUSD board hears complaint from
classified employees,
approves agreement with teachers

August 26, 2015
Santa Paula News

Classified employees of the Santa Paula Unified School District came to the district board last week, upset over negotiations with the district.

Ilda Sanchez, who works at Bedell School and is the California State Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter 891 President, told the board, “I represent classified employees whose hard work often goes unrecognized. Classified employees work hard without many thanks and often for little pay, but many of our members are middleclass members of the Santa Paula community.”

She said that the CSEA is near an agreement with the district and she feels that their proposals to the district are fair, affordable, “And would compensate the classified staff appropriately for the valuable services that they provide.” She added that the district’s proposal will negatively impact the classified employees  at a time when other CSEA Chapters are reaching agreements that make up for earlier cuts they suffered.

A tentative agreement was reached with Santa Paula Federation of Teachers. It calls for a 5% increase in the salary schedule retroactive to July 1 of this year. However, employee contributions for health and welfare have increased. An employee only will pay $125 per month, an employee plus one will be $225 per month and an employee plus a family will be $466 per month. Each of those is for a 10-month school year. The District and the union agreed that for the 2015-16 year only the District would supplement employee contributions. A first year teacher will be paid $47,735 under the agreement. The maximum salary will be $82, 338, plus increases for longevity and higher degrees. Certificated Management received the same 5% increase, as well as the health and welfare benefits.

Other memorandums of understanding negotiated with teachers cover the following:  Classroom Preparation, Heat Day Mitigation, and Collaboration Days at the Middle School and High Schools.

The board also heard from John Isom of Isom Advisors. The district voted later in the meeting to retain his services as a bond consultant. The contract is to not exceed $101,500. His firm will conduct voter opinion Poll Services and financial planning advisory services.

Isom told the board that in 2012 they helped 37 school districts in the state to pass tax measures. In 2014 that number was 42 districts. He noted that the district’s tax base had grown by 79.5% since 2003. He added that the district could generate between $23.4 to 31.2 million dollars.

The board was told by Asistant Superintendent Christine Schieferle that the district is in compliance with a court settlement. In 2013, a group called Cal200 and an individual by the name of Marc Babin filed a class action lawsuit against 37 school districts stating that districts were failing to provide the State mandated 200 minutes of physical education for every 10 school days. The former Santa Paula Elementary School District was one of the 37 named. She told the board that Santa Paula schools are in compliance with all of the provisions in the CAL200 settlement.

In another matter, the board voted to increase their maximum monthly compensation by 5%, effective August 1. That increases their compensation from $252 a month to $264.60. Board members can also participate in the district health and welfare plan. 





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