Notes Finding of Survey : Las Virgenes School Chief Hints at Snag on Raises

In 11 selected Los Angeles-area school systems, a teacher must have a master’s degree before receiving the maximum pay, Las Virgenes School Supt. Albert Marley pointed out Wednesday in the midst of salary talks with teachers.

Marley noted in an interview that Las Virgenes teachers do not face such a requirement, and he said the school board has not decided whether to seek it.

A salary survey of 11 school districts was mandated this year in contract negotiations with teachers. The new agreement, approved in March, requires an effort to pay Las Virgenes teachers wages that are comparable with those in other districts of about the same size.

One ironic result of the survey is that as many as 100 teachers could be forced to earn advanced degrees to qualify for raises, Marley said. Under the March contract, the district cannot compel teachers to return to college to justify their current pay.

Officials and teachers at the 7,600-student district west of the San Fernando Valley are in negotiations over pay for the coming school year. The third bargaining session of the summer was held Tuesday and no new negotiations have been scheduled.

So far the survey has not produced comparisons of actual salaries paid at various districts, Marley said, adding that the information is still being analyzed.

Teachers union leaders have predicted that the salary comparison will prove that Las Virgenes instructors are underpaid.

More than two-thirds of Las Virgenes’ 320 teachers are at the top of the pay scale. The two sides disagree on the number with master’s degrees. Karen Lough, president of the Las Virgenes Educators Assn., which represents the teachers, estimates the number at about 60; Marley puts it at 115.

Lough, an elementary school science teacher, said her union has asked for a 6% raise for the upcoming semester. Marley said the district has not formulated its proposal.