Placentia-Yorba Linda school employees settle on raises for 2018-19: 2.5 percent salary hikes

Tentative agreements have been reached for 2.5 percent salary hikes retroactive to the beginning of the school year for 2,679 employees in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.

The agreements were signed earlier this month by district negotiators and officers of the two unions representing certificated and classified employees, with final adoption anticipated at a March 5 meeting of district trustees.

The 1,144 certificated employees, generally classroom teachers, are in line for a 2 percent across-the-board pay hike and an added 0.5 percent boost due to compression of the salary schedule to 26 annual steps from the 28 years previously required to reach the top pay level.

Salaries for the 2018-19 school year will range from $51,148 for a certified first-year teacher with a bachelor's degree and an additional 30 units of education credits to $110,978 for a teacher with 26 or more years of service and from 60 to 75 advanced education credits.

Unchanged from past years is a $1,500 stipend for an earned doctorate from an accredited institution and added pay for academic or athletic coaching, committee assignments and department chair and lead teacher positions, among other extra-pay duties.

The 1,325 classified employees, generally maintenance, transportation and office workers, along with classroom aides, can expect a 2.5 percent across-the-board increase.

A first-year child care aide would earn $13.04 hourly ($2,259 monthly), while a computer systems trainer and a senior programmer analyst would earn $44.80 hourly ($7,764 monthly) after five years of service.

Classified workers are represented by the Placentia-Yorba Linda Chapter 293 of the California School Employees Association. The unit's 70-page, three-year contract with the district runs though June 30, but wage and other specified sections are reviewed each year.

Certificated workers are represented by the Association of Placentia-Linda Educators. The unit's 74-page, three-year contract runs through June 2020, but again, wage and other specified sections are reviewed each year.

Two other groups, the 144 certificated management employees and 66 classified management employees, each year receive the same increases negotiated by the unions.

The certificated management pay range will run from $83,964 for a first-year wellness specialist to $174,351 for an executive director with six years of service, plus increasing longevity pay at 17, 21, 25 and 30 years ranging to $8,172 at 30 years.

Principal ranges will be $133,429 to $150,959 (high school); $116,644 to $131,975 (middle school); and $114,309 to $129,331 (elementary school), plus any longevity pay. Counselors will start at $93,508 and earn $105,795 at six years, plus any longevity pay.

Full-year classified management positions will earn from $40,237 for a confidential clerk to $174,351 for an executive director, plus longevity pay at 10, 15, 20 and 25 years.