Menifee district approves raises

By: CATHY REDFERN - Staff Writer
Terms for schools employees settled before state sounded the budget alarm | Wednesday, March 12, 2008 12:09 AM PDT ∞

MENIFEE -- Despite the school district's strained budget, employees will receive a 4.5 percent raise for this fiscal year at a cost of about $2 million to the agency, board members decided Tuesday.

The raises, which will be paid retroactively from July 1, 2007, are based on the state's cost-of-living adjustment and were negotiated in January, shortly before the state came out with a dire budget forecast, administrators said.

Though the contracts were not signed when they got the bad news, board members chose to proceed while they still could, said Fred Twyman, president of the Menifee Union School District's board.

"A lot of school boards were not settling their contracts and holding back and our board thought that was a bad idea," Twyman said. "We said, no, we've got the 4.5 percent and we'll give it, and next year, if there is no money, we won't have anything to give.

"I don't believe in making real cuts based on proposed cuts."

Union representatives said they were pleased with the agreement, despite not getting all they wanted, including a greater allowance for health care. They were given an extra $400, however, raising the district's cap for health benefits to $9,869 per year, administrators said.

"We're just thrilled to get anything," said Theresa Grant, who represents nonteaching employees and works in the library at Menifee Valley Middle School. "With all the budget cuts, we're just fortunate that the district followed through."

Last month, the school board voted on a series of cuts to slash $8 million from its budget over the next two years, starting July 1. They chose to close Menifee Elementary School for one year, to eliminate most bus service for elementary students and to axe counseling services for elementary students.

The raise approved Tuesday includes a 4 percent salary increase for teachers and administrators and a 3.5 percent increase for all other employees. Those workers, designated as classified employees, chose to apply a half percent increase to raise the pay of instructional aides and to add increases for employees who have worked in the district for 10 years, officials said.

The balance of the 4.5 percent consists of the $400 medical benefit increase for each employee.

Negotiated salary increases last year were 5.5 percent, district officials said.

Greg Tortoreti, president of the Menifee Teachers Association, said that he was satisfied with the contract in light of the dismal state budget, but that several items remain problematic for teachers. Menifee teachers rank near the bottom of the barrel in salary when compared to neighboring districts, he said, and had wanted a larger increase.

Also, Tortoreti said, middle school teachers were seeking a change in their schedules to allow them a preparation period during school hours. Currently, their preparation period is before school, he said.

Yet, teachers voted 283 to 80 to accept the contract, said Tortoreti, a math teacher at Bell Mountain Middle School.

"We were going for more and had a lot of items on the table, but then the governor yanked the rug out from under us," he said. "Under the circumstances, I'm happy we escaped unscathed."

Twyman said he believes the raise is fair.

"I was a union leader, and I always think that whatever the COLA is, is what they should get," said Twyman, a math teacher at Paloma Valley High in the Perris Union High School District.

He believes salaries for teachers would be more in line with area districts when Menifee Union School District takes over the operation of Paloma Valley from the Perris district, a process that is under way and for which he has been a staunch proponent.

Twyman said district employees receive automatic raises each year based on having one more year of experience. If more budget cuts are necessary, board members have said one of the first things they will cut is the annual step increase for administrators, which would save about $90,000, Twyman said.

According to district salary schedules, teacher salaries range from $36,319 to $94,597 per year. Classified employee pay ranges from $1,746 per month for a food service assistant to $5,924 per month for an occupational therapist.

Superintendent Linda Callaway earns the top pay in the district, $160,700 per year.

After Tuesday's meeting, Callaway said board members recognize everyone will be working longer and harder during the coming lean budget years.

"I sincerely appreciate the value and respect the board showed to all of our employees," she said.

Employees should see the increase in their paychecks this month, said Assistant Superintendent Dan Wood.

Personnel costs account for about 83 percent of the district's $65 million spending budget, he said. The district is mandated to keep a minimum of 3 percent of its budget in reserve, he said, and while recent good times had that reserve at more than 10 percent, current projections show it shrinking to $160,000 above 3 percent by the end of the 2009-10 school year.

"We won't have the comfort we've had before," Wood said. "And we have to keep those things in mind. But we're going to keep the district in good fiscal shape at all cost."

-- Contact staff writer Cathy Redfern at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2621, or e-mail credfern@californian.com.