School Board OKs Teachers Contract With 2% Raise

The Los Angeles Board of Education voted 5 to 2 Tuesday in favor of a contract agreement providing the 40,000 employees represented by the United Teachers-Los Angeles with a 2% raise.

The agreement, which could cost about $54 million, includes a minimal accountability plan affecting the small number of teachers who have received unsatisfactory evaluations.

The dissenting votes came from board members Barbara Boudreaux and Victoria Castro. Board member Jeff Horton expressed reservations about the weakness of the accountability provisions but voted for the proposal.

The vote ends eight months of labor unrest touched off by the teachers’ demand for a new raise midway through a three-year contract.

The agreement was ultimately a disappointment to both sides. The teachers union initially demanded a 4% raise, and Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. Ruben Zacarias wanted to have any salary increase linked to student achievement.