Judy Seckler
DOWNTOWN -- A comparison of 1999-2000 teacher salaries in Glendale and
neighboring school districts shows that beginning educators here earn a
moderate salary compared to their colleagues in other cities.
Veteran teachers who remain in the Glendale district for more than 18
years can expect salaries much more competitive than those of their
colleagues from neighboring cities.
Glendale Unified School District is paying its teachers under a
1998-99 contract with the Glendale Teachers Assn., which represents about
1,100 educators. A beginning teacher in the city holding a bachelor's
degree and a teaching credential made $32,653 under the contract.
If the union had accepted the district's offer on the table in the
salary talks, a beginning educator would be making $35,875, district
spokesman Vic Pallos said. The figure reflects special state money newly
approved by the state Legislature through an incentive program for
beginning teachers, as well as the 2.5% increase the district has offered
in stalled contract negotiations.
Glendale Unified's entry salary under the district's proposed contract
is higher than the $33,200 in La Canada Unified's 1999-2000 contract, and
the $35,609 paid in Burbank Unified. But it is less than the $36,550
earned by beginning Pasadena Unified teachers and the $37,000 in Los
Angeles Unified.
The district was competitive in the past, but the concern is Glendale
will start to fall behind, said Glendale Teachers Assn. President Ken
Niemeyer.
"If Glendale doesn't stay competitive, they won't be able to attract
quality teachers," Niemeyer said.
He pointed out a case scenario of a married teacher couple in their
30s who have taught in the district for three years. The husband teaches
at Crescenta Valley High and the wife teaches at Toll Middle School.
"They love working in the district. They want to start a family in
Glendale, but with their starting salaries they can not afford to buy
property here," he said.
According to the 1998-99 Glendale salary schedule, a teacher has to
work 10 years in the district to earn $50,000, which Niemeyer called a
comfortable wage.
At the last bargaining session, Glendale Unified offered the teachers
association a 2.5% increase for 1999-2000, retroactive to July 1, 1999,
and an 8.5% increase with an additional 1% for two days of staff
development for 2000-2001. The package represents a 12% increase over two
years.
The district would cover all medical insurance premium increases over
