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May 2, 2006
May 2, 2006 - May 15, 2006
Volume XVII, Issue 9
In This Issue...
Sea Otter Released After Rare Surgery
St. John’s Church in Capitola May Become Private Home
Distinguished Schools: Three Local Elementary Schools Rank in State’s Top 5 Percent
Fighting Cock Seizures in South County Net Hundreds of Birds
UCSC Withdraws Expansion Plan for Long Marine Lab
Capitola Adopts Spay and Neuter Ordinance
Soquel School District Teachers Reluctantly Agree to Contract
Cabrillo Commons Townhome Project on Atherton Place Moves Forward
Families Displaced by Mudslides Await Help
Condo Project on 41st Avenue Gets Preliminary Approval after Size Reductions
Capitola Shifts into Gear for the Rod and Custom Classic Car Show
Vintage Motorcycle Show to Benefit Homeless Shelter
Red Light Camera on 41st Captures Near-Collision along with Many Violators
Great Surf but Lifeguards Say Watch for Rip Currents...
911
Helping our Youth through Special Olympics
Crime Beat
Business
Looking for a Home Loan? You Don’t Have to Look Further than Your Home Town
History
Rio Del Mar’s Hard Luck Hotel
Opinions
Postmarked
Travel
Long Distance Glider Towing
The Mid-County Post > News
Soquel School District Teachers Reluctantly Agree to Contract
Teachers Dropped Demand for Larger Pay Increase
By Michael Thomas
Teachers in the Soquel Union Elementary School District contested wage increases proposed by District officials late last year, demanding that a 3 percent pay increase for the current year be increased to 3.5 percent.

But in recent weeks, members of the Soquel Educators Association (SEA) agreed to a contract that includes only a 3 percent raise and a $50 one-time bonus in June to help employees pay for the increased costs of medical benefits.

Once the contract is confirmed by the District’s Board, it will be effective retroactively to June 1 of last year when the prior contract expired.

“Of course we are very pleased to have reached an agreement,” said District Superintendent Kathleen Howard.

The 3 percent raise is expected to cost $300,000 out of a budget of approximately $14 million. Giving another half percent to the District’s 105 teachers would have cost about $37,000.

SEA Co-President Alison Chambers said that teachers only reluctantly agreed to the contract.
“We are looking at this 3 percent as an actual pay cut because of the healthcare costs [increasing,]” she said.

Chambers said that the cost of the District’s two healthcare plans will increase by 37 percent and 22 percent next year.

Unlike some area districts, Soquel does not have a floating cap that automatically covers some of the increased cost to teachers. Chambers said the District’s current contribution to health benefits barely covers a single teacher’s costs, much less the cost of health coverage for a teacher with a family.

However, she recognized that the District is under budget pressure.

“Their biggest fear, which is understandable, is declining enrollment,” she said.

District officials expect to enroll 89 fewer students this coming fall.

Chambers said that the prospect of increased State funding next year offers some hope for improving compensation. She hopes to see a budget committee formed with representatives from the Board, the teaching staff and parents to take a critical look at District spending.

“We feel that the District is spending the money and we are left fighting over the scraps,” she said.
Past stories related to this article...
Soquel School District Teachers Seek Better Contract | Jan. 24, 2006
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