By Danny Kelleher
Sports Editor
The Manhattan Beach Unified Teachers Association began negotiations with the Manhattan Beach Unified School District over the renewal of teacher contracts on Jan. 28.
MBUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews confirmed that there were four main categories for discussion regarding the renewal of teacher contracts: salaries, health and welfare benefits, stipends, and the integration of a teacher evaluation process into the district.
According to Matthews and MBUTA President Rachel Thomas, the first meeting went well.
“Ultimately, the first meeting is a formality where we [MBUTA] ask for something that we want to negotiate in the next meeting,” Thomas said.
During the first meeting, MBUTA proposed negotiating stipends paid to employees for off-hour work. For instance, teacher-coaches that travel with sports teams would be paid for the time spent away.
“As a union, we try to make sure that everything we discuss with the district is fair for our teachers,” Thomas said. “If it means that we need to make sure teachers with extracurricular activities need compensation or stipends, we will do our best to make sure that happens.”
Though MBUTA is not trying to negotiate for higher wages, union members believe they are underpaid given the current economic climate and cost of living in this community and its surrounding areas.
“In the past, the district employees have gotten raises while the salaries of teachers have decreased,” Thomas said. “If that was the case, then we would push for higher salaries. Last year, however, district employees did not get raises, and we cannot ask for more money for that reason.”
Teachers and administrators across the nation have been trying to come to an agreement on a teacher evaluation process. Last week, Matthews stated that the district will be looking into new ways of evaluating teachers.
“If you have an incompetent teacher, it is very hard to have them released,” Matthews said. “I do not think that [the new ways of rating teachers] will miraculously fix our system, but they will definitely help.”
Thomas believes that many teachers have been leaving the district to take administrative or other higher-paid positions in other districts in order to support themselves financially.
“Ten years ago, MBUSD teachers were in the average salary range for the state of California. We’re now in the bottom 10 percent,” Thomas said.
For now, teachers do not feel that there is much that can be done to raise low wages, but many still have high hopes for the future.
“I have taken a paycut most of my time in this district due to cost of living increases, which is unfortunate to teachers who have to drive an hour and a half to work because they can’t afford to live in this great community,” eighth grade Manhattan Beach Middle School teacher David Levy said.
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