A contract dispute between the San Luis Coastal Unified School District and its teachers’ union appears to be nearing an end. [Tribune]
Negotiators have agreed to a tentative three-year deal that would raise teacher pay by 4 percent. The tentative agreement applies retroactively to July and would add $1.4 million in district expense over the next three years.
The deal also includes a one-time $500 payment to all teachers, which is supposed to offset rising health care costs. The one-time payments will cost the district an additional $230,000.
A potential second raise is also built into the proposed contract. If district property tax receipts increase by 5 percent this year, then the teachers’ union could reopen negotiations for a raise in 2015-2016.
San Luis Coastal teachers previously received a 6.6 percent raise in 2011-2012.
The teachers’ union had been threatening a strike prior to Tuesday’s agreement. The average teacher in the district currently makes an annual salary of $71,525.
In order for the new contract to become finalized, a majority of the teachers’ union members must agree to the deal. Then, the district board must sign off on the contract.
The board could vote on the matter as soon as mid-March.
