BURBANK TEACHERS IN CONTRACT TALKS.

Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer

BURBANK - School officials and the teachers union have opened talks on a new contract, with the union demanding experienced teachers get the same pay other districts offer and school officials countering that money is short.

The contract between the Burbank Unified School District and the Burbank Teachers Association expired June 30, and teachers have been working under the terms of the old contract since then. The union has no plans to strike, but on Thursday the BTA asked teachers to wear black as a sign of solidarity with negotiators.

``We believe we should be, at minimum, above the median of L.A. County school districts on teacher salaries,'' said Kim Allender, BTA co-president.

The district has argued that its funds are limited.

``Our point is we understand that. But we also know that the district has new money coming in and we think the district is being excessively cautious (about) using the new money to improve teacher salaries. And it's starting to cost us talented new teachers because they're leaving,'' Allender said.

Superintendent Greg Bowman said the district is facing budget troubles and declining enrollment for the first time since the 1980s, with 212 fewer students this year than last year.

``So I think the important thing is that we meet in positive ways, and I'm certainly optimistic,'' Bowman said. ``The board of education, the administration and certainly the teachers are all working on trying to reach a negotiated agreement.''

As a result of layoffs and reassignments, the school district has nearly 100 fewer nonteaching employees than it did three years ago, Bowman said. And between 2002 and 2004, the school district had to cut more than $5 million from its budget.

But Bowman acknowledged the BUSD pays its experienced teachers less than most other school districts in the county. Among 47 unified school districts, the BUSD last school year ranked next to last in the maximum base pay it gives experienced teachers - $64,764 a year, compared with a median of $67,394, according to the Los Angeles County Office of Education. But the district offers better pay for beginning teachers. Teachers with a bachelor's degree and a credential can start at the BUSD with a salary of $40,042 a year, ranking the district 16th out of 47. The district ranks 32nd out of 47 in the amount it offers beginning teachers without a credential, which is $36,296 a year.

Alex Dobuzinskis, [phone]

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com