HUNTINGTON BEACH : School Board OKs Pact With CSEA

The Huntington Beach City School District board this week approved a 3-year contract with its non-teaching employees union.

Under the contract, bus drivers, custodians, office clerks and other employees represented by the California School Employees Assn. Chapter No. 316 will receive a 1.65% salary increase, retroactive to July 1. The union’s 215 employees will also receive a 2.35% increase in health and welfare benefits.

The relatively small increases are indicative of the statewide budget crisis, a trend that will probably continue among school districts for several years, said Alan Rasmussen, the district’s assistant superintendent of personnel. The pay boost was 1.76% smaller than originally proposed because of Gov. Pete Wilson’s proposed educational cutbacks, he said.

During the board’s special meeting Tuesday, trustees also approved a time line and list of criteria for hiring a new superintendent. The district is scheduled to begin accepting applications for the post next month and hire a new superintendent in late April.

The 20 qualities the board agreed were essential in a new administrative leader included several items stressing a recognition of collective decision making and open communication with all employees and the community.

Since Supt. Diana Peters resigned amid controversy last August, Gary Burgner has served as the district’s interim superintendent.