Teachers union braces for a fight in Dos Palos

The Dos Palos-Oro Loma Teachers Association has declared an impasse on a new contract with the school district, union leaders announced Wednesday.

Teachers are “fed up with their school district’s refusal to invest in educators,” the union said in a statement to the Sun-Star. The union has organized a rally for teachers and parents outside of the district offices on Monday.

“If the Dos Palos School district is truly serious about putting students first, it’s time to quit putting teachers last and get serious about doing what works, and that means a fair contract for teachers,” said Marty Thompson, a Bryant Middle School teacher and union president. “Dos Palos teachers are standing up for our students who deserve caring, qualified teachers in their classrooms to provide quality instruction.”

The union, which represents more than 100 kindergarten to 12th-grade teachers, argues that instructors will leave the Dos Palos Oro-Loma School District for better paying jobs. Dos Palos teachers are some of the lowest paid in the county and the district has difficulty attracting teachers, according to the union. At least 10 classes this year are being taught by non-credentialed educators, the union said.

Starting salary in Dos Palos for a first year teacher is $44,404. In comparison, in Firebaugh those teachers make $46,467, Merced City School District pays $48,217 and those in Los Banos make $48,735, according to each district’s salary schedule.

The district has struggled financially in recent years like many in Merced County, according to interim Superintendent Jack Mayer. He said teachers received a 6.09 percent raises in 2013 and a 5 percent in 2014. The district also added payments to teachers’ medical benefits.

The district has offered a 1 percent salary increase for teachers, Mayer said, adding many receive 2 percent step increases from year to year.

The union said the district should be using more Proposition 30, which raised income and sales taxes, funding to pay teachers. The district has received about $21 million in new money from the 2012 proposition, according to the union.

Teachers in the district reach their maximum pay after 26 years, according to the last agreement. The union looks to condense the salary schedule to 15 years.

Thompson said that would amount to a 9 percent raise for teachers. The teachers are asking for a “nominal pay increase,” according to Thompson.

“Who makes the biggest impact on the education of our students? Teachers do. We also know the best way to improve student learning is to hire, support and retain a quality teacher in the classroom,” Thompson said.

Officials said the district’s new superintendent takes over next week. William Spalding, who has been an assistant superintendent in a Sacramento-area school the past five years, takes over in Dos Palos on Monday, the same day as the protest.

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 6:31 PM with the headline "Teachers union braces for a fight in Dos Palos."