District gives raises to some employees

Deirdre Newman

Nonteaching employees may gain a modest increase in their

paychecks after the school board approved a 1% raise Thursday. The

raise, if the county approves later this month, will be applied

retroactively to July 1.

While the employees would have liked to see more, they will take

the small increase considering the state’s budget woes, said Jared

Vieyra, the incoming president of Newport-Mesa’s chapter of the

California School Employees Assn.

“With problems with the state budget, we have an interest in

making sure the district stays financially sound,” Vieyra said.

The move benefits the district as well as the employees, trustee

David Brooks said.

“It’s not much in cash, but they won’t see a big decrease in their

paycheck, either,” Brooks said. “It’s important for the employees to

know the district does value them and the service they provide for

us.”

The raise accomplishes the Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s

goal of bringing the nonteaching employees close to the average total

compensation of the county, which includes salary plus health and

welfare benefits, said Lori McCune, assistant superintendent of human

resources.

The association also negotiated to receive potential salary

increases of 1% to 2% based on future increases of property tax

revenue and a “me-too” clause with the teacher’s union that allows

its employees to receive whatever increase in salary the teachers get

for the 2003-04 school year, Vieyra said.

In addition to paying its nonteaching employees 1% more, the

district will have to shell out 21% more in health and welfare

benefits this year.

The county has the final say on the raises, as with all district

salary increases, and should make its decision within the next two

weeks, McCune said.