THOUSAND OAKS : School District, Union OK Contract

About 600 school employees in the Conejo Valley Unified School District will receive raises totaling 20% by January, 1993, under a contract ratified Thursday by school district and union officials.

For the first time since 1985, classified workers--including secretaries, custodians and maintenance and food-service workers--would get a percentage raise instead of having their salary increases based on the state funding received by the district in the Thousand Oaks area.

Classified employees will receive a 7% raise retroactive to January, followed by a 7% raise in January, 1992, and a 6% raise in January, 1993. However, they will no longer receive a portion of the district’s California Lottery money.

Raises for the past three years have ranged from 2.88% to 4.59%, plus 8% of the district’s lottery funds.

School board members ratified the contract Thursday night after members of the California School Employees Assn. approved the contract earlier in the day.

The union had sought a 30% raise over the three-year contract in addition to 15% of the district’s lottery money each year.

Negotiations between union and district officials began in December and a tentative agreement was reached last week.

In January, a contract was approved for Conejo Valley teachers giving them a 7% raise retroactive to July, 1990, followed by a 7% increase this July and a 6% increase in July, 1992.

They also received a small, onetime lottery bonus.