SVUSD Avoids Strike, Comes to Agreement With Teachers

Looks like the school district my kids went through will avoid a strike like neighboring Capistrano District experienced:

Saddleback Valley Unified teachers will accept a 9.72 percent pay cut and larger class sizes at most grade levels under a tentative agreement reached with the school district to help close a $33 million budget deficit.

The school year, meanwhile, will be shortened by three days this year and five days next year, with teachers also losing all four of their staff development days. Class sizes in the fourth through 12th grades will inch up by an average of 0.5 students each beginning next fall, necessitating some teacher layoffs.

"We are very satisfied we have worked something out with the teachers," district spokesman Tom Turner said. "This allows us to avoid ... potential bankruptcy. It's still unfortunate, though, that we're looking at job cuts and salary losses."

The tentative agreement between the 33,000-student school district and its teachers union was reached Thursday night, after several consecutive days of talks last week. A state-appointed mediator moderated the discussions, as negotiations were at an impasse.

The school board is expected to ratify the agreement Tuesday, and teachers will vote on it over a three-day period ending Friday.

The Saddleback Valley Educators Association union did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Under the agreement, teachers will make 9.72 percent in total pay concessions, including a 2.85 percent salary cut, higher health insurance costs and the furlough days.

I'm glad they've got that settled. Saddleback is a good district and I have some fond memories of my kid's years at Del Cerro Elementary, La Paz Middle School, and Mission Viejo High School - especially the music programs.