SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : Trustees Approve New Teachers’ Pact

Capistrano Unified School District trustees this week approved a $1.6-million labor contract that will give the district’s 1,200 teachers a 2% raise and an improved health-benefits package.

The Capistrano Unified Education Assn. ratified the one-year contract last week. It is retroactive to July 1 and includes additional life insurance, special sick-leave days, unpaid staff development hours and improved vision-care benefits.

The salary increases will push new teachers to a minimum of $28,000 and those with 20 or more years of experience to a minimum of $55,000. The district also agreed to pick up increased premiums for health insurance and raise term life insurance polices from $25,000 to $30,000.

The new contract also provides teachers with three sick-leave days that can be used for personal matters, which are outlined in the contract. Under the old contract, teachers were limited to two days. One concession that the district hails as a victory is the teachers’ agreement to work up to two unpaid hours outside the school day for staff development.

Both teachers and district officials say the contract, reached a month after talks began, was one of the speediest processes in recent memory. In previous years, talks have dragged on into the second half of the school year.

“On behalf of members of the CUEA, I am pleased to see that the board has an opportunity to vote on a contract before the autumn leaves have fallen,” said union president Ric Stephenson.

District Supt. James Fleming also said he welcomed the short negotiating process, adding: “We are also pleased to have these contract discussions behind us so that we can together look forward to the challenges ahead.”