Teachers, District OK Tentative Agreement

School district officials and the teachers union at the Pleasant Valley Elementary School District are poised to settle their salary negotiations after eight months of discussion.

On Wednesday, the two parties came up with a tentative agreement on a three-year contract for the district’s 340 teachers. Terms of the contract, which would be retroactive to last August, include a 4% salary increase, plus raises equal to the state’s cost-of-living increase for the next two school years.

Teachers must still take a vote on whether they agree on the contract, but so far they seem fairly pleased at the terms, said Carol Marvin, president of the Pleasant Valley Education Assn.

“I think they feel good at the fact there is a three-year contract and we don’t have to go over this next year,” Marvin said. “We’re now in front of the cart, we’re not behind pushing the cart, and that makes them feel good.

“[The district] now includes us in the planning of spending money instead of saying at the end, ‘This is what is left.’ ”

Pleasant Valley teachers with a bachelor’s degree and teacher credential start at $27,018 a year. The highest-paid teachers--those with master’s degrees or 60 units of additional course work--make a maximum of $43,096, according to figures from the 1995-96 school year.

District Assistant Supt. Stephen Hanke expressed relief that the settlement process was nearly over.

“I think we’re all very happy,” Hanke said. “I think we’ve reached a fair and equitable settlement that will promote what we’re all about, which is giving the best program possible.”

A bargaining committee will be formed to discuss separate issues, such as giving teachers extra time to prepare for classes, and the establishment of a middle school system.

The terms of the agreement will be announced publicly and brought before the Pleasant Valley school board for approval during a budget meeting today at 6:30 p.m. at the Ventura County superintendent of schools office, 5189 Verdugo Way, Camarillo.