Teachers Approve 2-Year Contract

Teachers in the Orange Unified School District gave a decisive “yes” to a new contract this week.

The teachers accepted the two-year contract with a 588-171 vote, although they were not thrilled with all the terms, said Suzanne Vaugine, president of the union, which represents 1,200 teachers. The union determined this was the best deal teachers could get from the school board, she said.

The contract was tentatively settled in June after a bruising, yearlong battle between teachers and the board. It is retroactive for a year and expires June 30, 1998.

Teachers at the bottom of the pay scale will receive huge raises of as much as 25% as a way to fill spots in response to the state’s reduced class-size program. Teachers at the top end of the scale will receive raises of 2% to 9% depending on how many of them take a buyout of lifetime health benefits.

The contract will return to the school board Sept. 25 for ratification.