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Soquel School District Teachers Seek Better Contract
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Soquel School District Teachers Seek Better Contract
By Michael Thomas
Over 100 teachers employed by the Soquel Union Elementary School District are waiting to see if negotiations with District staff can produce a better three-year contract. The District has offered teachers a 3 percent increase in compensation. The additional money could be applied directly to salaries or used to offset the ever-increasing cost of retirement and health benefits.
Teachers would like to see the District give a little more.
“We are asking for 3.5 percent. We are standing firm,” said Shirley Busch, a teacher at Soquel Elementary and co-president of the Soquel Educators Association union.
The difference of a half percent wouldn’t amount to much on teachers’ paychecks. Busch estimated it would be along the lines of the cost of a tank of gas every month.
According to the District’s chief negotiator, Assistant Superintendent Mary Bevernick, “The Board has worked diligently in fiscally challenging times to be able to make this offer.”
According to District figures, the average salary for their teachers is $54,212 for the approximately 183-day work year, which is competitive with other County school systems. The budget impact of a 3-percent raise stands at about $300,000. If another half-percent was added, it would cost the District another $37,000.
“It’s not a huge difference,” Bevernick said.
Busch said that the District’s teachers take any increase seriously.
“Right now we have a lot of people who are having a hard time … making their housing payments. Particularly the new teachers,” she said.
However, Bevernick pointed out that the District’s other employees have a “me-too clause” in their contracts, which means they’ll get any increase awarded teachers, thus inc-reasing the stakes for the District.
The contract would run for three years, starting at the conclusion of this fiscal year.
“We have to be cautious about spending future monies,” Bevernick said. “The District is in declining enrollment so we get less money every year.”
This year, declining enrollment resulted in the elimination of two teaching positions.
Busch said that part of the increased compensation will go towards health coverage for retirees.
The District pays a flat contribution to teacher’s health care plans, and Bevernick recognized that increased costs have put a strain on teachers’ wallets in recent years.
“Over time their contribution to healthcare has skyrocketed. That’s a continuous problem,” she said.
Negotiators were scheduled to meet once more on Monday, Jan. 23 and again on Feb. 3. The Soquel Union School District operates campuses in Capitola, Soquel and Santa Cruz Gardens.
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