Teachers Ratify Pact, Will Get 2 Raises

After months of contentious negotiations, Oxnard elementary school teachers ratified a two-year contract this week.

The contract allows for a 2% pay raise this year and a 10.98% raise next year, officials said.

Gracie Soliz, president of the Oxnard Educators Assn., said the high salary increase next year makes up for the small raise this year.

“We wanted to bring closure to this struggle,” Soliz said. “We are glad it’s over.”

Negotiations between teachers and administrators in the Oxnard Elementary School District began at the beginning of the school year, and became tense over time.

In April, more than 150 teachers protested at a school board meeting.

In May, a state mediator was called in to bring the two sides together. Negotiations resumed June 11.

Originally, teachers had demanded a 4% pay raise, but they were told the district could not afford more than a 1.4% raise.

But when Gov. Gray Davis announced that school districts would receive $1.84 billion in unrestricted funds, Oxnard district officials found out they could get as much as $4.4 million. Soliz said the teachers will receive most of that money.

The current contract expires June 30. School board trustees will vote on the new contract next week, according to Soliz. Teachers held a celebratory rally Tuesday afternoon.