District, Teachers’ Union negotiate teacher contracts

Friday, March 19, 2010
By Zack Rosenfeld
Staff Writer

Negotiations for the renewal of teacher contracts and raises are beginning between the Manhattan Beach Unified School District board and the Manhattan Beach Unified Teachers’ Association.

“We are now looking for ways to bring back more teachers and try to give our teachers better salaries,” MBUTA President Rachel Thomas said.

MBUTA’s main argument is that, as the cost of living goes up, in the South Bay, teachers’ salaries do not match them. They say that the pay is essentially decreasing because health insurance premiums and  currency inflation are increasing.

“Over the past 10 years, our teachers have not been given a raise that is enough to cover cost of living, and that cost is going up. We are more eager to fight for our raises,” Thomas said.

In the past years, the MBUTA argued that teachers do not receive adequate raises in accordance to the school’s steadily rising Academic Points Index and rising student population.

API scores indicate the students’ knowledge of the curriculum in school.

“Our teachers are working really hard, and it is reflected by our students’ performances in STAR and AP tests,” Thomas said.

The MBUTA also argues that, once teachers have worked for 15 years in the district, they do receive raises until their twentieth year in the district.  Once they reach that year, they get a three percent salary raise.

“We are upset that when we reach year 15 with the district, we are not obligated to a raise for another five years,” Thomas said.

The MBUSD board did not comment on their views or actions taking place in the negotiation meetings.