SIMI VALLEY : Teachers Ratify New 3-Year Contract

Simi Valley teachers overwhelmingly ratified a three-year contract Monday that would require changes in their medical plan before they could get a raise this school year.

Of the 417 members of the Simi Educators Assn. who voted, 380 were in favor of the contract that includes no cost-of-living increase for the three-year period.

For the district’s 800 teachers to get a raise for the 1991-92 school year, the Simi Valley Unified School District would have to change from a self-insured medical plan to one offered by a private company. The change could result in an estimated 2% to 4% salary increase, according to union leaders.

Future negotiations will address raises, medical benefits and the number of school days taught for the 1992-93 and 1993-94 school years. All other aspects of the contract would be effective for three years.

Bill Davenport, president of the teachers’ union, said the 91% approval rating was one of the highest in recent memory.

“It’s about as good as it gets right now,” Davenport said. “At least we didn’t have to take a pay cut like Los Angeles Unified.”

The school board will vote on the contract at its regular meeting tonight.

Under the contract that expired June 30, teachers received a 6% increase in 1988-89, a 7% raise in 1989-90 and a 9% increase in 1990-91 school year. Simi Valley teachers now make $20,559 to $50,484 a year.