Orange Teachers to Break Deadlock in Contract Talks

Hopes have been raised for ending a 1 1/2-year contract dispute in the Orange Unified School District now that the teachers union plans to present a new proposal to district negotiators next week.

“I think all the teachers are optimistic, and they are all anxious about this,” said Linda Davis, school board president. “This better be something. It has to be. I can’t believe they would draw this out any longer. It’s cruel to the teachers, and that trickles down into the classroom.”

Negotiations disintegrated May 24, when the Orange Unified Education Assn. membership rejected a tentative agreement that would have given a few longtime teachers raises of up to 13% and required a buyout of veteran teachers’ retirement medical benefits. The two sides dispute each other’s budget projections and have accused each other of bargaining in bad faith.

Bill Shanahan, executive director of the union, said a proposal will be presented to the board on Tuesday and the union representatives are ready to negotiate.

“We want an agreement that is fair and equitable for our members and that will help us to attract and retain teachers in Orange Unified,” Shanahan said.

Before Thursday’s board meeting, more than 100 teachers picketed outside district headquarters. During the meeting, teachers presented a districtwide survey to the board stating that two-thirds of the teachers gave the school board a no-confidence vote.

According to a union survey, 98% of the 993 teachers who responded disagreed that the board acts in the best interest of teachers and students, and 98% disagreed that the school board placed a high priority on valuing and respecting teachers.

But because of the pending proposal from the union, the board on Thursday night tabled a motion to implement raises for younger teachers.

Wes Poutsma, assistant superintendent of human resources, said the district expects to hire 275 to 350 new teachers next year.

“I know our team is ready to sit down,” Poutsma said. “I’ll stay there 24 hours a day if I have to.”