Fountain Valley : School District, Teachers Reach Contract Accord

Drawn-out contract negotiations between the Fountain Valley School District and its 300 teachers--under way for nearly a year--have finally ended, with both sides agreeing on the amount of a salary increase and added instructional hours and days.

The district and the Fountain Valley Education Assn. agreed to 180 instructional days for all students, up from 175, in conformance with a recent state law mandating more school time. Moreover, the number of instructional minutes each week for first- and second-grade teachers will be increased from 1,300 to 1,400.

The district and the union agreed on a 5.8% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 1984. Altogether, total compensation increased 8.7%, district spokeswoman Cheryl Norton said. Teachers in the district will receive an average salary of $32,925, plus fringe benefits, Norton said.

Both sides also agreed that the number of minutes of instruction for first- and second-grade teachers from the beginning of the school year to the date of contract ratification will remain unresolved until a decision is received from either the Public Employment Relations Board or Court of Appeal.

Total cost of the contract amendments is about $826,000, with $346,000 of that assumed by the state. The district’s share is about $480,000.

Teachers have ratified the agreement and the changes added to the 1982-85 contract, which included a provision for reopening salary negotiations each year. Negotiations for a new three-year contract already have begun, Norton said.

Last August, teachers refused to accept the district’s proposal for the longer school day and year, and an impasse was declared in the negotiations. At that time, the district made its “final offer” of a 5% raise while teachers held out for 13%.