Three CTA chapters in South Orange County - Capistrano, Irvine, and Saddleback Valley - held a joint news conference on the Day of the Teacher (May 8) to point out the causes of their contract negotiations crises: inept administration, warped budget priorities, and poor advice from the consulting firm employed by all three school districts.
Addressing the news media on the sidewalk after being evicted from an Irvine school site are Orange County chapter presidents (from left) Frank Weirath from Capistrano, Dave Brown from Garden Grove, Janet Henry from Saddleback with CTA President Wayne Johnson.
CTA President Wayne Johnson and CTA Secretary-Treasurer David A. Sanchez spoke in support of the South Orange County teachers, who have been offered increases of one percent or less by their respective school districts. The average salary increase for the rest of Orange County is 5.09 percent.
CTA Board Member Tom Conry.
The chapter presidents told the media that all three districts have sufficient funds to settle the 2001-02 contracts with fair teacher salary increases. They pointed out that experienced teachers who move elsewhere in the county can make $5,000 to $14,000 more.
"It's hard to retain and attract new teachers at this point," said Irvine Teachers Association President Anne Caenn.
"Teachers' morale is low," said Capistrano Unified Education Association President Frank Weirath. "Can you blame them?"
CTA Board Member Anne Caenn from Irvine, backed by members of her chapter.
"You need to bring up the entire profession," said Saddleback Valley Educators Association President Janet Henry. "All employees need to be treated the same."
The teachers pointed out that the superintendents from the three districts are among the highest paid in the county, and they administer the only districts that have not reached a settlement on their teacher contracts.
Frank Caso