CRAIG SHULTZ
Hemet teachers have overwhelmingly agreed to a new contract with Hemet Unified School District, according to results released by the teachers union. Membership of the Hemet Teachers Association ratified the new deal with 95.4 percent approval, according to an email from Robert Hudson, president of the association. The agreement calls for higher salaries and smaller class sizes. The proposal will now go before the school board Tuesday, and if trustees approve the deal, it will go into effect immediately, Superintendent Barry Kayrell said. Union members met Thursday night for a question-andanswer session before casting ballots. Teachers will receive an 8 percent salary increase this year and 2 percent next year under the agreement reached with the school district Tuesday night. They also will receive a lump sum of $1,500 toward health benefits this year and the same amount added to the district’s contribution toward benefits in subsequent years. The agreement is projected to cost Hemet Unified $8.4 million for the current fiscal year and $3.3 million for 2015-16. The deal came while the district and union were in fact-finding, the final formal stage of labor negotiations. “As with all negotiations, everyone gets some of what they want, but no one gets all of what they want,” Kayrell said in a news release. “The advantage of having a (tentative agreement) is that we can all focus on our primary goal of helping students achieve academically.” The sides have been at odds for almost two years, and teachers have been without a new contract since 2013. If fact-finding didn’t result in an agreement, both sides were preparing for a strike. The new deal runs through June 30, 2016. Since the raise goes back to August, teachers will receive the 8 percent difference in one check, which Kayrell should take about one month to process. As part of the agreement, teachers will be required to work an additional 12 minutes each school day beginning next year. Those minutes will be added to instructional time. Hemet Unified employs about 1,000 teachers who currently earn base salaries between $44,161 and $87,860, based on experience and education. With the agreed increase, the salary range will be $47,694 to $94,889. Class sizes will be capped at 26 students for kindergarten through third grade and 34 for fourth and fifth grades. Middle and high school teachers will have no more than 195 students for a five-period day and 235 for a six-period day, which averages 39 per class. Teachers union ratifies agreement
Highlights of the agreement between Hemet Unified School District and Hemet Teachers Association: Term: Three-year agreement; salary and benefits talks may be reopened if the gap funding in the final state budget exceeds 32.19 percent Hours of employment: Beginning in 2015, instructional minutes and work day increase by 12 minutes Health and welfare benefits: Increased employer contribution to $10,600 beginning July 1, 2014; for the 2014-15 school year, the $1,500 increase will be paid out in a one-time cash payment Salary: The salary schedules will be increased by 8 percent effective July 1, 2014, for the 2014-15 school year; the salary schedule will increase by an additional 2 percent effective July 1, 2015. Class size: A waiver was added requiring reductions to site ratios of 26:1 in kindergarten through third grade; maximum student contacts set at 195 (five-period day) or 235 (six-period day) in grades sixth to 12th; class size adjustments must be made within 45 work days.