CVUSD adopts teachers' new three-year contract

Conejo Valley Unified School District board members adopted a new three-year contract with the Unified Association of Conejo Teachers Monday, leaving both the district and the association expressing satisfaction with the result.

"We really appreciate the board working with us on this," said Susan Falk, president of UACT. "When glitches emerged, both teams came together. This has been a win-win situation for all involved."

Falk said an overwhelming 98 percent of UACT members voted to accept the new contract.

The collective bargaining agreement indicated that the teachers' salary schedule will increase 3 percent, or about $2 million, this year. Statutory benefits will also increase 3 percent, about $229,769.

According to the contract, there are 1,023 represented employees in UACT. On average, the total compensation increase for the average employee will be $2,243 this year.

The former contract expired June 30, 2007. The district and UACT reached an agreement on Oct. 30 before the board voted unanimously to ratify the contract Tuesday.

"I do agree that this was a winwin," said CVUSD board president Dolores Didio. "I look forward to many compatible school years to follow."

The contract expires in June 2010, although UACT has the opportunity to renegotiate salary raises each year.

- Joann Groff