Elementary district trustees approve agreements with employees
April 19, 2013
By Brian D. Wilson
Santa Paula News
Trustees of the Santa Paula Elementary School District have approved what are termed “Side Letter” agreements with teachers and classified employees.
The agreement with the teacher’s union concerns class size from July 1 of this year to June of 2014.
Both the district and teachers agreed that the anticipated hiring of 12 new teachers may place the district in deficit spending for the upcoming school year. The union and the district have been working to prevent the district from adversely affecting the Santa Paula Unified School District, which takes over both the elementary and high school districts on July 1.
Class size for Bedell, Blanchard, McKevett and Isbell Schools for the 2013-2014 school year: kindergarten - 23 students, grades 1-3 - 24 students, grades 4-5 - 30 students, combination K-3 classes - 23 students, combination 4-5 classes - 25 students, grades 6-8 - 32 students, grades 6-8 PE - 45 students.
Class size for Glen City, Grace Thille and Barbara Webster: kindergarten - 22 students, grades 1-3 - 23 students, grades 4-5 - 25 students, combination K-3 classes - 22 students, and combination 4-5 classes - 24 students.
The board also ratified a memorandum of understanding with the California School Employees Association (non-teaching employees). The district and the union negotiated the effects of layoffs and reduction in hours ratified in February.
In another matter, the board okayed a one-time payment of $2,000 to unrepresented employees who, as of last December 1, had paid out of pocket costs for medical, dental and vision coverage for this school year. The district will also pay all current unrepresented and contracted employees a two percent off schedule increase.
The trustees approved May 6-10 as Teacher Appreciation Week and May 19-25 as Classified School Employees Week.
