CAMARILLO : School Board to Weigh New Teachers Contract

An impasse between the Pleasant Valley School District and its 216-member teacher’s union could end Thursday if the Board of Trustees approves a proposed contract settlement.

Mary Moore, chief negotiator for the Pleasant Valley Teachers Assn., said rank-and-file members of the union ratified the proposed contract late Friday. Although union officials had initially sought a 4% salary hike, union leadership settled for an offer of 2% that was brokered by a state mediator.

Union members have been working without a contract since June. In February, an impasse was declared and a state mediator was called in.

“I’m not going to tell you that we’re thrilled about the terms of this contract,” Moore said. “But I think most members are satisfied that it’s the best we can do and that we tried our best.”

District administrators did not return phone calls Monday.

The new contract includes a $500 increase in the cap on medical and dental benefits, bumping the annual maximum district payment to $5,500 per employee.

Aside from the benefit and pay increases, all other terms in the one-year pact remained the same as in the 1992-93 contract.

The school board will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at Camarillo City Hall, 601 Carmen Drive.