Monrovia : Teacher Contract Accord

The Monrovia Unified School District Board of Education and the Monrovia Teachers Assn. are expected to approve a contract that will give teachers a salary increase of more than 10%.

Association President John Connot said the teachers, who have been working without a contract since Aug. 31, are expected to ratify the contract Jan. 7. Board President Sarah Koch said the board will vote on the pact Jan. 8.

The contract will provide a salary increase of 10.7% retroactive to Sept. 1. Monrovia teacher salaries rank near the bottom of the 43 school districts in Los Angeles County. A longevity bonus of $500 per year will be given to teachers who have completed 20 or more years with the district. Teachers also will have a say in how the district spends some of the state lottery revenue it receives.

Koch said she is pleased that accord is near and that the district will enter negotiations quickly for next year’s contract. The contract settlement came just two days after the board voted to place Supt. Gwendolyn Collier, whose contract expires June 31, on a paid leave of absence beginning Jan. 1. The board named Don Montgomery, principal of Monroe Elementary School, as interim superintendent.