Fountain Valley : Teachers Picket Home of Trustee in Pact Dispute

Fountain Valley School District teachers on Thursday picketed in front of the home of school board president Ann Galas to protest the lack of a contract since last July.

“We intend to make ourselves more visible,” said Kathy Wright, chief negotiator for the Fountain Valley Education Assn., the teachers’ union.

However, Galas said she was not swayed by the protest, which marked the second time in two weeks that teachers have marched in front of board members’ homes.

“My position is unchanged because I really feel the board has given a fair and equitable offer,” she said.

Cheryl Norton, the school district’s communications director, said that the district sought and obtained a restraining order from Orange County Superior Court Commissioner Greer Stroud to limit the size and duration of picketing at board members’ homes.

Stroud’s order restricts the number of pickets to 10, and limits the demonstration to 15 minutes not more than twice a week and only during daylight hours. “The (teachers’) association was served with the order today (Thursday), and they obeyed it at Mrs. Galas’ residence,” Norton said.

“We (in the school district) sought the order because these homes of board members are private residences in private neighborhoods and shouldn’t be unduly disrupted. It’s one thing to picket district headquarters, but another to picket private homes.”

The teachers’ union and the district are discussing a three-year contract that would include the current school year. The district said that its “last, best and final offer” is for a 5.7% pay raise, effective the date of settlement but not retroactive to July 1.