With Contract in Hand, Most Teachers to Stay

The threat of mass defection by teachers in Orange Unified School District has ended, school officials said Monday.

Settling a yearlong contract dispute, negotiators for the district and the teachers union reached agreement Friday on a plan that would significantly raise salaries for teachers who commit themselves to another year in the district.

By Monday, which was the deadline for teachers to inform the main office if they intend to return for the next school year, more than 1,000 of the district’s 1,200 teachers had indicated that they will do so, Supt. Robert L. French said.

The district received 104 resignations this year, with about 40 of those leaving to go to other districts, French said. The usual attrition rate is 120 a year, he said.

Several months ago, about 300 teachers had threatened to leave, citing the district’s pay scale, which was the lowest in the county, and the contentious contract negotiations.

But union and district officials agreed to a settlement “in concept” that would raise entry salaries to $30,000 from $24,000 and give more experienced teachers a series of raises up to 12%.

The final terms of the agreement have yet to be written. The raises for older teachers will depend on whether they take a buyout plan for lifetime retirement health benefits.

The new agreement makes Orange Unified a competitive district, French said.

“We’re all relieved,” he said. noting that six year-round schools begin today. Suzanne Vaugine, president of the teachers union, said the teachers seem generally pleased with the proposed settlement.