It's a fact that people pay a premium price to buy a home in the Los Gatos Union School District. The district enjoys an enviable reputation, especially because of the community support it's received in the form of a parcel tax which allows the district to continue programs that are no longer available in many districts..
That's why word that teachers are not at all happy with the status of their contract negotiations came as a surprise to many in the community.
After five months of negotiations, the Los Gatos Elementary Teachers' Association and the district are at an impasse. On Feb. 10, the LGETA turned down a proposal for the second time, forcing the two groups to the next step--third-party mediation.
While negotiations have led to strained relations between teachers and the district, it wasn't until a board meeting Feb. 9 that the public got an inkling of just how unhappy teachers are.
"I've never seen a proposal that was worse in the 37 years that I have been here," Bob Tetzlaff, one of the negotiators and a teacher at Daves Avenue School, said. "Many teachers felt hurt and betrayed and feel that the district is not in touch with them."Blossom Hill School teacher Amy Despars agreed. "The teachers are pouring their hearts out to negotiations but nothing is getting acknowledged to what they asked for," she said.
By law, neither side is allowed to release details of the negotiations, but it was made clear at the board meeting that a proposed salary schedule is the sticking point.
Several parents at the meeting were surprised to hear about the turmoil in the district, but one teacher found it not surprising. "I think it's a credit to the teachers that none of our parents knew about this," Daves Avenue teacher Nancy Ringsted said.
While LGUSD board members could not respond directly to comments, Board President Steve Glickman read a board statement to the group stating some of the board's goals for salary and contract negotiations.
A salary schedule similar in format to other school districts, allowing the district to be more competitive in hiring new teachers;
A schedule that allows teachers to make more money early in their career rather than waiting until their final teaching years;
Making the new salary schedule optional for current teachers and making it mandatory for newly hired teachers;
Offering additional pay to those who earn a master's degree.
Board member Tom O'Donnell added, "There is nothing more important in this district than the teachers."
Superintendent Mary Ann Park, lead negotiator for the district, said after a meeting with negotiators on Feb. 10, "We are at an impasse over salary. We are not disagreeing on the contract."
The negotiating teams will now move on to the next step of working with a mediator from the personnel review board in San Francisco. Park said the date of the first meeting is being scheduled.
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
