Sickout Staged by Capistrano Unified Teachers

Dozens of teachers called in sick Friday to three high schools in Capistrano Unified School District, apparently over ongoing salary and benefit disputes.

Aliso Niguel High School--where 40 teachers were absent--took the biggest hit. About 200 students staged an attempted walkout during the morning break, only to be escorted back to campus by Orange County sheriff’s deputies. Several students reported chaotic early morning conditions, with unstaffed classrooms, unruly pupils and some vandalism.

“There were kids tearing things off the wall, throwing tables,” said Kristin Bower, 15.

“Kids were knocking down the ceiling panels.”

Principal Charles Salter said classes returned to normal 15 minutes into first period and that substitutes, administrators, and staff from other schools pitched in.

But by the time of the 10:15 a.m. break, students had organized an impromptu walkout. Senior Alexis Trimble, 17, said Salter pleaded with students to stay, first over the school’s loudspeaker, then in front of the crowd with a megaphone.

“He said, ‘It’s not “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” We need to get back to the classroom,’” Trimble said.

By noon, many students had called their parents and dozens went home early. District officials did not have attendance numbers for the day, but said they did not believe attendance was dramatically different from normal.

Several parents who pulled their teens out of school voiced support for the teachers.

“I’m on their side,” said parent Cindy Mouzakis. “I think they needed to do something to get [the district’s] attention.”

Parent Myrna Esmaeili agreed. “I support some kind of demonstration and I support the students. They’re standing behind their teachers. But I’m hoping it will resolve soon.”

Mediation between the district and teachers entered the second day on Friday after nearly one year of negotiations. Teachers were angry after initially being offered a small pay raise and an increase in some health benefits.

District’s Latest Offer Is a 2% Pay Raise

After Friday’s mediation session, the district’s offer stood at a 2% raise, The Times learned and district spokesman David Smollar confirmed. The district previously had offered enhanced health benefits as well, Smollar said.

Despite the contract problems, union representatives said the sickout was not a sanctioned action. But if more teachers were absent than on a typical day, Capistrano Unified Education Assn. President Frank Weirath conceded, “There might be people out who are unhappy. We’ve been doing picketing and leafleting at schools.”

On Thursday, 178 teachers called in sick throughout the district. That number rose to 323 Friday, compared to 233 for the same day last year, Smollar said.

Mediation is scheduled to continue June 11.

Smollar called the sickout part of the “fun and games” that come with protracted labor negotiations, and said district officials are disappointed that it came during mediation and affected students.

About 20 teachers also called in sick at San Clemente High School and about 35 did not show up to teach at Capistrano Valley High School, Smollar said.

No major problems were reported at either of those campuses.