PALMDALE SCHOOLS, TEACHERS REACH TENTATIVE CONTRACT AGREEMENT.

Byline: KAREN MAESHIRO Staff Writer

PALMDALE -- In contrast with the last round of talks that ended with a yearlong impasse, negotiators from Palmdale School District and the teachers union took three days of meetings to reach a tentative agreement on a new contract that contains a 6 percent raise.

School officials said they were able to offer a pay hike for the 2006-07 school year in part because there are more cost-of-living-adjustment funds coming from the state this year compared with the prior year.

``It was an excellent round of negotiations. There was good articulation on both sides of the table. We looked at the interests of the district, (the union) and students and came up with an excellent tentative agreement,'' said Pauline Winbush, director of certificated personnel. ``It was nice to be able to have monies to increase salaries and still take a look at health benefits.''

The agreement was reached Tuesday.

The Palmdale Elementary Teachers Association will hold a general meeting for members to discuss the contract on Sept. 7, after school resumes in fall. Teachers will vote on the tentative agreement on Sept. 25.

``We believe it's a pretty good one. The fact they have been dialoguing helped us get to this point. Both teams worked very hard to come to that,'' union President Simone Zulu said.

The prior impasse ended in January with a contract that offered no raise but removed language about limiting health insurance payments, which union members found objectionable in previous versions.

The cost of providing health benefits also was a stumbling block the last time, but this time the union proposed health benefits packages that are less costly to the district and offer more choice to members.

Winbush said the district is getting about 6 percent in cost-of-living adjustments, compared with about 4 percent last year. Both sides also agreed to shift funds paid to teachers in other forms to help pay for the raise.

For example, teachers with class sizes above a set staffing ratio of 30 students per instructor receive $5 per student per day for the number of students above 30. The money used for that purpose was applied to the raise, Winbush said.

Savings from less costly benefits plans also helped in allowing the district grant a raise.

``We looked at giving options. The district will pay for a specific plan that is a less costly package than what we currently offer. Teachers can buy up to the current plan or couple (other options) in between,'' Winbush said.

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com

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