BY CRAIG SHULTZ
STAFF WRITER
Hemet school district employees, unhappy with an offer of a 4 percent salary increase, have taken to the microphone the past two weeks to ask the school board for more.
They cite an improving economy, a fat bank account and more state funding for the Hemet Unified School District as reasons they deserve more. They also mention how they took 16 unpaid furlough days over the previous four school years.
“We feel the changes we are proposing to the contract are fair and in the best interest of our members,” Nicole Worthington, who heads the teacher union’s negotiating team, told trustees on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
“We are willing to listen; we are willing to compromise. We deserve a fair contract.”
While they admit the budget picture looks better than it has in recent years, administrators say things aren’t necessarily as they appear. They admit the district has banked well over the state-mandated 3 percent, and the board ap- proved 5 percent in reserve money, but say much of that is earmarked for specific uses and can’t go to salaries.
Talks have stalled with both labor unions that serve Hemet Unified employees. Each has received the school board’s “last, best and final offer.”
Besides the 4 percent salary increase, the district is offering another $1,500 to each employee toward health benefits, which amounts to a 6 to 9 percent raise, depending on the employee’s salary, said Vince Christakos, assistant superintendent for business.
But employees say they are worth more.
An impasse has been declared in negotiations with the California Service Employee Teacher Association chapter that represents nonteaching employees, such as secretaries, classroom aides and custodians. The next step is to bring in a mediator to see if an agreement can be reached, although the two sides can negotiate through the process.
“It is our sincere hope that we will reach agreement on total compensation,” LaFaye Platter, deputy superintendent of human resources, said in an interview Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Negotiations with the Hemet Teachers Association, which represents educators, are at a standstill, but not at impasse. Progress is being made on issues not related to pay, but the salary offer remains an issue, Platter said.
Teachers say they are among the lowest paid in all of Riverside County, while administrators are near the top of the pay chart.
Platter said the district is studying teachers’ pay compared to others.
Annual teaching salaries in the district range from $44,161 to $87,860, based on an educator’s years of service and education. Superintendent Barry Kayrell is paid $218,325 a year.
Teaching salaries in the neighboring San Jacinto school district range from $44,362 to $90,105. Superintendent Diane Perez is paid $176,460.
Both Hemet school district unions are working under provisions of three-year contracts that expired in June but have been rolled over while new ones are being negotiated.
Workers have taken over the public comment portion of school board meetings the past two Tuesdays. Thirteen people spoke at the Feb. 4 meeting and 20 addressed the board Feb. 11, when a standing-room only crowd estimated at 250 people filled the meeting room. Most were wearing blue to show their solidarity.
Bonnie Little, president of the CSEA chapter, said the unions are supporting each other.
“HTA and CSEA are holding hands and we’re not going to back down,” she said. “We’re worth what we’re asking for.”
Members of the audience chanted “4 percent is not enough” as teacher’s union treasurer Kristian Blanchard told of all the things school employees do for the 21,000 students at 23 sites.
HUSD’s 2013-14 budget calls for $188 million in revenue and $187 million in expenses, not including the proposed salary increases.
Of the money the district receives, 83 percent is spent on salaries and benefits for its 2,000 employees, about half of whom are teachers. The payroll cost is $15 million per month.
The reserve sits above 20 percent, Christakos said, adding that besides the restricted dollars, money has been saved to deal with the roller-coaster the state has kept school districts on over the past five years when it comes to how much and when they receive money.
“That uncertainty has caused us and a lot of other districts to have to be conservative when we do budgets,” Christakos said. “If a bad thing happens during the year, we have to be prepared for it.”
Contact Craig Shultz at 951-368-9086 or [email protected]
CRAIG SHULTZ/STAFF
Hemet Teachers Association President Robert Hudson addresses the Hemet Unified School District board Tuesday, Feb. 11, encouraging trustees to restart contract talks.
STAFF WRITER
Hemet school district employees, unhappy with an offer of a 4 percent salary increase, have taken to the microphone the past two weeks to ask the school board for more.
They cite an improving economy, a fat bank account and more state funding for the Hemet Unified School District as reasons they deserve more. They also mention how they took 16 unpaid furlough days over the previous four school years.
“We feel the changes we are proposing to the contract are fair and in the best interest of our members,” Nicole Worthington, who heads the teacher union’s negotiating team, told trustees on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
“We are willing to listen; we are willing to compromise. We deserve a fair contract.”
While they admit the budget picture looks better than it has in recent years, administrators say things aren’t necessarily as they appear. They admit the district has banked well over the state-mandated 3 percent, and the board ap- proved 5 percent in reserve money, but say much of that is earmarked for specific uses and can’t go to salaries.
Talks have stalled with both labor unions that serve Hemet Unified employees. Each has received the school board’s “last, best and final offer.”
Besides the 4 percent salary increase, the district is offering another $1,500 to each employee toward health benefits, which amounts to a 6 to 9 percent raise, depending on the employee’s salary, said Vince Christakos, assistant superintendent for business.
But employees say they are worth more.
An impasse has been declared in negotiations with the California Service Employee Teacher Association chapter that represents nonteaching employees, such as secretaries, classroom aides and custodians. The next step is to bring in a mediator to see if an agreement can be reached, although the two sides can negotiate through the process.
“It is our sincere hope that we will reach agreement on total compensation,” LaFaye Platter, deputy superintendent of human resources, said in an interview Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Negotiations with the Hemet Teachers Association, which represents educators, are at a standstill, but not at impasse. Progress is being made on issues not related to pay, but the salary offer remains an issue, Platter said.
Teachers say they are among the lowest paid in all of Riverside County, while administrators are near the top of the pay chart.
Platter said the district is studying teachers’ pay compared to others.
Annual teaching salaries in the district range from $44,161 to $87,860, based on an educator’s years of service and education. Superintendent Barry Kayrell is paid $218,325 a year.
Teaching salaries in the neighboring San Jacinto school district range from $44,362 to $90,105. Superintendent Diane Perez is paid $176,460.
Both Hemet school district unions are working under provisions of three-year contracts that expired in June but have been rolled over while new ones are being negotiated.
Workers have taken over the public comment portion of school board meetings the past two Tuesdays. Thirteen people spoke at the Feb. 4 meeting and 20 addressed the board Feb. 11, when a standing-room only crowd estimated at 250 people filled the meeting room. Most were wearing blue to show their solidarity.
Bonnie Little, president of the CSEA chapter, said the unions are supporting each other.
“HTA and CSEA are holding hands and we’re not going to back down,” she said. “We’re worth what we’re asking for.”
Members of the audience chanted “4 percent is not enough” as teacher’s union treasurer Kristian Blanchard told of all the things school employees do for the 21,000 students at 23 sites.
HUSD’s 2013-14 budget calls for $188 million in revenue and $187 million in expenses, not including the proposed salary increases.
Of the money the district receives, 83 percent is spent on salaries and benefits for its 2,000 employees, about half of whom are teachers. The payroll cost is $15 million per month.
The reserve sits above 20 percent, Christakos said, adding that besides the restricted dollars, money has been saved to deal with the roller-coaster the state has kept school districts on over the past five years when it comes to how much and when they receive money.
“That uncertainty has caused us and a lot of other districts to have to be conservative when we do budgets,” Christakos said. “If a bad thing happens during the year, we have to be prepared for it.”
Contact Craig Shultz at 951-368-9086 or [email protected]
CRAIG SHULTZ/STAFF
Hemet Teachers Association President Robert Hudson addresses the Hemet Unified School District board Tuesday, Feb. 11, encouraging trustees to restart contract talks.