FOUNTAIN VALLEY

Working in a good school district benefits the Fountain Valley School District faculty, but it doesn’t pay the bills, say some veteran teachers who are disgruntled about being paid below the county average. “People want to be associated with a district like this, but it’s frustrating to not be compensated accordingly,” teacher Carol Swain said. Swain and other Talbert Middle School teachers attended a recent school board meeting to ask trustees to re-prioritize budget goals and consider raising teacher salaries to the county average.

Although entry-level elementary school teachers are paid close to the county average, those who have taught 12 or more years rank at the bottom quarter of the pay scale, Swain said. Teachers who have worked 20 or more years are at the bottom, she added. District Supt. Marc Ecker said it is a goal for the district to bring salaries up, but it’s a slow process. Over the last three years, teachers have received, in total compensation packages, between a 14% to 15% increase in salaries, he said.