COLLEGE OFFICIALS GET RAISES; VENTURA TRUSTEES VOTE TO EXTEND CONTRACTS OF CHANCELLOR, DEPUTY.

Byline: David Greenberg Daily News Staff Writer

The Ventura County Community College District trustees have extended contracts for Chancellor Philip Westin and Deputy Chancellor Mike Gregoryk by another year and given them pay hikes.

Westin, who was making $142,800 a year, and Gregoryk, who was making $127,559, each will receive a 2.97 percent raise retroactive to Jan. 1, a 2.18 percent raise retroactive to July 1, and less than 1 percent in ``growth dollars'' that are based on enrollment increases for the 1997-98 year.

Their contracts now run through Dec. 31, 2001.

``In order to attract and keep good people, we have to be able to compete with business and other educational institutions (by) offering contracts that last more than one year,'' said Norman Nagel, president for the board of trustees. ``I think (Westin) has done a marvelous job. He's very knowledgeable about whatever issue comes before us. He also put together a team of dynamic individuals at the district level that are going to carry us into the next century.''

The board voted 4-1, with John Tallman voting no. Tallman said he opposes multiyear contracts.

The exact increases were not known Wednesday because the growth dollars had not been totaled, said Barbara Buttner, district spokeswoman.

Elton Hall, chief negotiator for the district's faculty union, said Westin does not deserve the contract extension and raise, but he was not surprised by the trustee's Tuesday night action.

``I have not been impressed with the chancellor's performance over the last 18 months,'' Hall said. ``But we are a `me-too' district. Do I think it's a good principle to give (administration) a raise when faculty gets one? No, not particularly. But it's standard practice.''

The teachers union recently signed an agreement with the district for a new three-year contract after a bitter 16-month dispute that nearly culminated in the first strike in district history.

Also on Tuesday, trustees gave contract extensions through June 30, 2001, and identical percentage pay hikes to the three college presidents: James Walker of Moorpark, Steven Arvizu of Oxnard, and Larry Calderon of Ventura. Each currently makes $110,000 a year.