IMPASSE CONTINUES AT HIGH SCHOOLS DISTRICT TEACHERS OFFERED 4 PERCENT RAISE WHILE THEY SEEK 6 PERCENT.Byline: KAREN MAESHIRO Staff Writer LANCASTER -- Negotiators for the Antelope Valley Union High School District The Antelope Valley Union High School District (A.V.U.H.S.D.) is located in the Antelope Valley area of California, in northern Los Angeles County. The district includes eight public high schools, one trade school, and two continuation high schools in the cities of Palmdale and the teachers union will meet with a state mediator for a second time in September to try to iron out roadblocks in contract talks. An impasse was declared several weeks ago over issues of salary and benefits. The district is offering teachers a 4 percent pay hike while its union seeks a 6 percent raise for its members in the 2006-07 year. ``We are at impasse right now, which means that there's a state mediator that comes in and tries to facilitate a settlement,'' said Gene Smith, president of the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Teachers Association. Deadlocks in contract talks have not been uncommon in the district, said Tim Azevedo, assistant superintendent Assistant Superintendent, or Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was a rank used by police forces in the British Empire. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held by a European officer, most of whom joined the police at this rank. for personnel services. He said there have been impasses in three out of the last five years. An impasse also has been called in contract talks between the district and the union representing nonteaching employees, Azevedo said. The district's chapter of the California School Employees Association The California School Employees Association (CSEA) is the largest classified school employees labor union in the United States. CSEA represents more than 230,000 public employees in California. has been offered a 4 percent raise for nonteaching employees and wants 7 percent, Azevedo said. ``This has been a pretty good year for funding for schools, an exceptional year, and some districts have settled already,'' Smith said. Smith said the district's offer includes a higher co-pay for prescription drugs prescription drug Prescription medication Pharmacology An FDA-approved drug which must, by federal law or regulation, be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription–eg, finished dose form and active ingredients subject to the provisos of the Federal Food, Drug, , which employees view as a slight reduction in health benefits. ``We are seeking an offer that more closely addresses 8 percent in new and ongoing money -- 6 percent in COLA (cost-of-living adjustments) and 2 percent in equalization In communications, techniques used to reduce distortion and compensate for signal loss (attenuation) over long distances. and some other money,'' Smith said. ``We are seeking a better settlement than 4 percent and to maintain benefits. We are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. fair treatment as far as new money is concerned.'' Azevedo countered that the new money is enough to fund the raise the district has offered, not the one the teachers want. ``We are never going to put ourselves back in the situation -- back in 1992 and bankruptcy. We are going to be prudent,'' Azevedo said. ``There is no hidden treasure chest there.'' Azevedo added that the opening of Eastside High School Eastside High School or East Side High School can refer to:
``We've added staff. When you open a school, it's very expensive. Staffing is disproportionate to the number of kids you have,'' Azevedo said. karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com (661) 267-5744 |
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