RAISES IRK TEACHERS PALMDALE UNION TO PROTEST STAFF HIKES.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Upset over raises given to the superintendent and administrative staff, the teachers union in the Palmdale School District is urging its members to protest the pay hikes at coming board meetings.

The Palmdale Elementary Teachers Association has sent out informational surveys to its more than 1,100 members detailing the administrators' salary increases and asking teachers to attend the meetings on Tuesday, Sept. 5 and Sept. 19.

``The major issue is all administrators are receiving pay raises. The problem with that is they also have a me-too clause. When we negotiate, they will also get whatever we get,'' said Ken May, the union's treasurer and teacher at Shadow Hills Intermediate School. ``We want teachers to show up in support to let the board know that we're angry.''

The board last month gave Superintendent Nancy Smith an 11 percent raise, hiking her annual salary to $127,000. In June, Smith, three assistant superintendents, and 101 management employees were given a 6.7 percent pay raise by trustees.

Negotiations between the district and the teachers union on contract ``reopeners,'' including salary, begin in September. Reopeners are issues specified under the employment contract for negotiations annually, even though the contract itself has not expired.

Union officials are asking why teachers are not getting a 6.7 percent increase in pay like the administrators. They also note that seven administrators each received $9,900 pay increases on Aug. 1 because their job titles were changed from coordinators to directors.

Smith said seven administrators were upgraded in rank from coordinators to directors and given additional responsibilities and duties, but only five received pay increases.

Smith said that was cheaper than hiring new people, at $100,000 apiece, to take on the additional job duties or replace people who were promoted.

``We did it a cheaper way. Their duties and responsibilities have gone up. Instead of hiring, we upgraded them and did not replace them. We felt we did it in an economical fashion,'' Smith said.

The administrators are Roger Gallizzi, director of biliterate programs; Michael Geisser, who heads the psychology staff; Faye Choate, director of education technology; Carolyn Hansen, director of intervention programs; Phill Rosell, director of professional development; Lon Herrera, director of special education; and Carol Rush, director of early childhood.

Herrera and Rush did not get pay increases, Smith said.

Smith said the teachers have received a raise this year, but in a different format. They are working 10 fewer days than last year and still earning the same money, which is the equivalent of a 6.1 percent increase in the daily rate of pay, Smith said.

Smith said she doesn't know if management and confidential staff will get the same pay raise that the teachers negotiate for this year.

``That's something the board decides,'' Smith said.

Smith said she has no problem with teachers showing up at board meetings, but she took issue with the union survey.

``The tenor of the survey is not very professional, but that's OK. It's meant to rile people up,'' Smith said. ``People have every right to tell us in a professional manner when they are unhappy or disagree. We have always been fair with teachers. We won't change that now.''