Teacher salary talks to continue

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT-MESA - Teachers’ ongoing salary negotiations with the school

district have been put on hold this week while their young charges

graduate and finish out the school year, but the discussions are by no

means over.

Although they did not reach an agreement by Friday as anticipated, both

parties said they have made some headway.

“Things are by no means done and by no means at a standstill,” said Mike

Fine, assistant superintendent in charge of finances. “There is a lot of

good discussion and there are a lot of positive things on the table.”

While teachers would have liked to resolve the issues before school let

out for the summer, they are optimistic an agreement can be reached

before school begins again in the fall.

Since the board has committed to making salary increases a priority,

teachers have decided first to tackle two side issues -- money for new

teachers, and money for a peer assistance and review program -- said

Linda Mook, president of the Newport-Mesa Teachers Federation.

The peer assistance and review program, which will replace an existing

teacher mentor program, was proposed by Gov. Gray Davis during a special

education session. If the teachers and the district can settle on terms

to apply for the state funds, it could bring nearly $600,000 to

Newport-Mesa.

The incentive, proposed in a previous budget, would start new teachers at

a state-recommended minimum salary of $32,000.

Agreements must be reached on the issues by June 30 in order to receive

the state money, Mook said.

While those two issues must be resolved by the end of the month,

negotiations regarding teacher salaries could last all summer.

“We’re committed to working over the summer to not only reach an

agreement, but to work on a more positive negotiation climate,” Mook

said. “I do feel the board wants to strongly support teachers and improve

salaries and we’re just trying to find a way to do that.”