THOUSAND OAKS : Teachers’ Pay Hike Under Board Study

A Thousand Oaks teachers’ initial contract proposal would cost the school district between $6.8 million and $9.1 million, officials told the school board Thursday night.

The most expensive part of the proposal would be a pay increase for the teachers at an estimated cost of $3.5 million, according to a financial analysis released at the meeting by Assistant Supt. Leean Nemeroff.

Health benefit increases would cost between $383,000 and $1.8 million, and the teachers’ proposal to reduce the maximum class size by one student would cost another $1.2 million, Nemeroff said.

The proposal by the Unified Assn. of Conejo Teachers, released last month, was the first move in negotiations to replace a contract that expires in June.

The union representing 700 members, who earn between $28,000 and $49,000 a year, asked the district to restore a 3% pay cut the teachers took last year and to raise salaries an additional 5% to make up for pay they lost last year.

Union officials said the 5% includes the money lost from the 3% pay cut and from two teacher-preparation days removed from the school calendar to cut costs.

The Conejo Valley Unified School District plans to counter with its own offer this month, and negotiations will begin in earnest after that, officials said.

In addition to the hearing Thursday night analyzing the union’s offer, the school board held a closed-door strategy session with its labor lawyer.