GLENDALE TEACHERS OFFERED SIZABLE HIKE STATE FUNDING INCREASE PAVES WAY FOR RAISE.

Byline: Jennifer Hamm Staff Writer

GLENDALE - A hefty increase in state funding enabled school officials to offer Glendale teachers what is thought to be the largest single-year raise in district history, officials said Thursday.

About $8 million in unexpected money from the state helped increase the offer to the Glendale Teachers Association, which just this week reached a tentative agreement with the Glendale Unified School District.

``Show us the money,'' said Ken Niemeyer, president of the Glendale Teachers Association. ``Put the money into public education to help improve public education.''

That was the attitude the California Teachers Association had in the spring when it lobbied Gov. Gray Davis for more money. The result was a ``breathtaking and unexpected'' $1.84 billion for public schools, said Bob Blattner, director of legislative services for School Services of California, a consulting and lobbying group.

Shortchanged for years starting in the early 1990s, school districts had money coming back to them, said Vic Pallos, spokesman for the Glendale school district. Because local districts saw a drop in their funds, many felt they were losing the ability to compete, Pallos said.

``School boards all over the state of California really looked at that money in large measure to pass through to state employees,'' Pallos said.

The tentative contract calls for a 14 percent salary and benefits raise over two years. The breakdown includes a 2.5 percent increase retroactive to July 1, 1999; a 9 percent raise effective July 1, 2000; and a 1 percent raise effective July 1, 2001, that compensates teachers who will work two extra days that were added to the school year. The package also includes a 1.5 percent benefits increase.

The last sizable raise was in 1988 when teachers received a one-year 8 percent raise that was followed by 7.5 percent and 7.2 percent raises in the following two years.

But this year's 9 percent increase goes beyond what's been done for teachers in the past.

``This is obviously a very good raise for teachers,'' said Cathy McMullen, assistant superintendent of human resources. ``The salary increase is really quite significant.''

As word spread about the agreement, many teachers agreed they were happy with the raise.

``It's a very generous raise,'' said Ron Klint, a math teacher at Crescenta Valley High School. ``I'm very thankful for whatever we get.''

Klint was also pleased with the deal the district had worked out with the union over the most central stumbling block during the negotiations. Klint, who does not belong to the union, is against the so-called agency fee provision, which would have enabled the union to collect dues from all teachers even if they are not union members.

According to the agreement, teachers who do wish to pay union dues because of religious or personal beliefs will be asked to make a contribution in the same amount to a charity.

This will protect teachers such as Klint from paying the fee which may soon be required statewide. A bill that would mandate agency fees statewide now awaits Davis' signature, though he has not taken a position on the measure yet, a spokesman said.

The agency fee issue had stalled contract talks for months and ultimately led to a state mediator being called in after an impasse was declared.

``I guess they had no other choice,'' said Klint. ``I'd rather have the choice to contribute to a charity than to an organization whose social agenda is completely opposite of mine.''

Union members will vote on the contract Sept. 14-15 before it goes in front of the board of education for final approval.