SIMI VALLEY : Windfall to Be Used to Hire 7 Teachers

Simi Valley school officials, going against the advice of the superintendent and school board president, have agreed to use about $300,000 in overpaid salaries to hire seven high school teachers.

Teachers in the district were required to repay money the district had mistakenly paid them last year.

Board member Lew Roth, who made the proposal Tuesday night, said the district should use the money now so teachers can be in place this fall.

Supt. John Duncan and board President Helen Beebe said the district should wait until it knows the outcome of 14 grievances that the Simi Educators Assn. filed after budget cuts were made last spring. The grievances, concerning class size, nurses, librarians, sabbatical leave and salaries of department heads, will be heard by an arbitrator Friday.

Officials say the district will have to spend up to $1.4 million per year to hire personnel if it loses all the grievances.

Hal Vick, executive director of the teachers union, said Wednesday that the union welcomes the board’s decision but will pursue the grievances.

Board members also voted to use state funds to rehire two of five nurses laid off due to budget cuts. However, because of funding requirements, they will teach about the dangers of smoking instead of nursing students.

The board also approved plans for a proposed computer-equipped elementary school in Wood Ranch. Funding for the $5.5-million school is being provided by Olympia-Roberts Corp., developer of the 4,026-unit Wood Ranch project.