TUSTIN : Board Gets Earful on Teachers Contract

More than 120 teachers, parents and students packed a Tustin Unified School District Board meeting Monday night to protest stalled teacher contract negotiations.

Wearing black and carrying black balloons to symbolize teacher morale in Tustin elementary and high schools, the teachers sat through a two-hour meeting before getting a chance to address the board during the public communications section.

Among those who spoke was Joyce Rohrbaugh, president of the 320-member Tustin Educators Assn., who reiterated the settlement offer presented to the district last week. Teachers are seeking at least an 11% increase, while the district has offered 9.4%.

Also speaking before the board were at least four parents of Tustin schoolchildren. One parent called for “a renewed commitment to cooperation and communication” and asked that the entire board sit down for a face-to-face meeting with the teachers team and with parent representatives. His remarks were greeted with loud applause by the audience, and his request was repeated by subsequent speakers.

Copies of letters from teachers to parents were distributed during the meeting. The letters ask that parents call board members and request rapid settlement of the 10-month-old dispute.