Local News in Brief : Teachers Get 6.5% Pay Raise

Teachers in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District received a 6.5% pay increase, retroactive to Sept. 1, in a pact approved by trustees this week.

The agreement, which raises maximum salaries to $43,000 a year, also provides increased longevity benefits and annual stipends for teachers who have doctorates. Nonteaching employees received a 6% salary boost, retroactive to Nov. 1.

The salary gains will be offset because the district is passing on to employees increases in the cost of health insurance premiums.

Officials said the district could afford the pay increases because of savings from last year’s spending freeze and from an unexpected increase in lottery funds.