SIMI VALLEY : School, Teachers Reach Tentative Contract Agreement

Just two weeks after declaring an impasse, representatives of the Simi Valley Unified School District and a teachers union announced Tuesday that they have reached tentative agreement on a new three-year contract.

Officials for both sides declined to reveal details of the contract until leaders of the Simi Educators Assn. meet with its 800 members; the meeting is tentatively planned for next week.

If the members ratify the contract, it will be considered for ratification by the school board at its Dec. 17 meeting.

Union leaders had declared an impasse on Nov. 21, saying they would call in a state mediator.

“Maybe that’s what shook them loose,” said union President Bill Davenport, adding, “I’m happy to see it’s over. It’s a good agreement.”

Tentative agreement came at a meeting on Monday, the first face-to-face encounter since the impasse was declared.

“There was a cooperative effort on both sides,” said Asst. Supt. Leon Mattingley, who represents the school district on the bargaining team. “It was give-and-take.”

Officials said the new contract, if ratified, would be retroactive to July 1.

Teachers, nurses, librarians and speech therapists are now working under a three-year contract that expired June 30.

That contract gave them a 6% raise in 1988-89, a 7% raise in 1989-90 and a 9% raise for 1990-91.

Teacher salaries now range from $22,559 to $50,484, depending on length of service and education.