Simi Valley Teachers March in Protest

Nearly 300 teachers marched Tuesday outside the offices of the Simi Valley Unified School District to protest what they say are low wages and crowded classes.

The teachers, who later packed a meeting of the school board at district headquarters to overflowing, are seeking an 8.5% annual increase in salaries and removal of a lid on health benefits. They also want to limit class sizes to 36, according to Jim Hitt, chairman of the Crisis Committee of the Simi Educators Assn., which represents the teachers in contract talks.

Hitt said the protest march, held a few hours before the school district’s regularly scheduled board meeting, was designed “to show the school board we are upset about their current offer.”

Teachers now make $15,300 to $34,600 a year. Simi Valley schools operate year-round.

The district’s approximately 800 teachers have been working without a contract since last year’s pact expired in June. The teachers and the school district have been at an impasse in bargaining for a new contract since May 21. The case is scheduled to go before a state mediator later this month.

The school board has offered a 5% annual salary increase and has proposed maintaining the limit on health benefits, under which no more than $38,000 to $40,000 is paid per family annually, said Harold Lipman, associate superintendent of schools.

Lipman said he does not believe that classes are too large, with the district trying to keep them to the maximum of 36 students allowed under the contract with teachers. But Hitt said that some classes had enrolled up to 41, making it more difficult to deliver individual instruction.

‘Reasonable Settlement’

“We feel we have offered a reasonable settlement,” said Lipman of the district’s contract offer.

Neither the school board nor the teachers’ union is required to follow the recommendations of a mediator.

Jerry Pearson, executive director and negotiator for the teachers, said the group will consider a strike if the mediation fails to substantially change the school board’s position.

“The teachers are very angry and frustrated,” Pearson said. “It is clear there is a greater likelihood of a strike this year than any other year.”

Simi Valley teachers last walked out, for one day, in 1969 in a salary protest.