ORANGE

Orange Unified teachers are getting the chance this week to vote on the district’s latest salary proposal and to send a message to school board officials about their confidence in the district leadership.

Ballots went out last week to the teacher union’s 1,500 members asking them to approve or reject the salary proposal, which gives substantial pay raises to veteran teachers and smaller ones to beginning teachers.

The union leadership has taken a neutral stance on the proposal, said Val Stein, executive director of the Orange Unified Education Assn.

The ballots include a place for teachers to express “no confidence” in the district leadership, whether teachers accept the contract or not, Stein said.

Ballots are due back Friday and will be counted by the League of Women Voters on Oct. 2.