Teachers Get 6.5% Increase

The board of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District voted 6 to 0 Monday to approve an agreement giving district teachers a 6.5% salary increase this school year and more say through the faculty advisory councils at their schools.

The two-year contract, ratified by the Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Assn. last week, raises the average salary for teachers from $38,950 to $41,481. The minimum pay for all teachers, counselors, librarians and nurses will increase from $22,470 to $27,000.

Beginning in 1990, teachers with 28 years of experience in the district who have taken professional advancement courses will be paid $50,752. The top salary now is $46,427, for 25 years of experience.

Under the contract, the district will continue to pay for medical benefits, worth about $4,000 this year.

Faculty advisory councils at the schools, which make recommendations on curricula and scheduling, will gain the right to advise the district on school budget issues and use of aides for teachers and yard duty.

Association President June Lucas said that union bylaws bar her from revealing the count from the ratification voting, held Sept. 19 and 20, but she said there was “very strong support for the contract.”

The board also unanimously approved a contract with a 6.5% pay raise for Supt. Eugene Tucker, which will increase his salary from $85,680 to $91,249.

The superintendent’s contract for fiscal year 1989-90 also includes yearly health and welfare benefits of more than $4,000 and a mileage allowance of $500 a month.