HUNTINGTON BEACH : District, Teachers Back in Mediation

A state mediator who 10 months ago resolved a contract dispute between the Ocean View School District and its teachers association returns today to mitigate a new set of differences.

The divisive issues this time include salaries and health benefits, and the distribution of additional revenue from the state lottery and Proposition 98.

The Ocean View Teachers Assn. on Nov. 1 declared an impasse in negotiations, prompting mediator Tom McCarthy to meet today at the district office with union and district officials.

Last month teachers picketed before classes at some of the district’s 17 schools and have since moved their protest to the district office, where they have picketed every day this week.

Carol Halbach, president of the teachers association, said that after last March’s settlement, she was confident that the union’s unaddressed concerns would be resolved by Proposition 98, the statewide school-funding initiative voters approved in 1988. The district has received $589,081 in Proposition 98 funds for the last two school years, proposing to allocate about $336,000 for teachers’ salaries and benefits and the remainder for school site and staff improvements.

But the union, which represents 394 teachers, is demanding that it be given a greater voice in how this money is spent. Additionally, it wants to tap extra money the district is receiving from the state lottery. During 1988-89, the district got $588,451 more than it had budgeted, and it figures to receive more than anticipated again this year.

Supt. Monte McMurray last week called the union’s demand for a bigger role in allocation of Proposition 98 revenues unreasonable, saying some of that money “is one-time money . . . and the association wants to build it into the (salary) table. But once it’s on the table, it’s there forever.”

McMurray said the district cannot afford to budge further. During the past 14 years, enrollment has plummeted from 14,000 students to 8,400, forcing the closure of seven schools and severely curtailing state funding, he said.

The level of health insurance contributions has emerged as the union’s main rallying point in the negotiations. Before this year, the district paid the entire cost. But this school year, the cost of the Blue Shield plan--the only option available besides two health maintenance organization plans--soared 50%. The district has proposed increasing its contribution by 11%, while the union wants full payment restored.

The district is offering teachers a 5.5% average pay hike, while the union wants a 9.3% average raise with equal increases for any teacher advancing on the scale. The teachers association is also calling for more paid lesson-planning time, standardized class sizes and improved retirement benefits.