Lucia Mar students side with teachers in pay dispute

February 24, 2015

CORRECTION:An earlier version incorrectly said that teachers at Lucia Mar Unified School District had not received a raise in several year. However, Lucia Mar teachers received a 2 percent raise in 2012/2013 and a 4.3 percent raise in 2013/2014.

Students in Arroyo Grande plan to march Tuesday in support of their teachers, who are in a contract dispute with the Lucia Mar Unified School District. [KSBY]

The teachers’ union is demanding 10 percent pay increases for its members, but the district’s plan is to give them 2 percent pay hikes. The teachers are threatening to strike if the district does not satisfy their demand.

Tuesday’s student march is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Arroyo Grande High School gym. Alumni and parents will join students in support of the teachers, and about 100 total participants are expected.

The march will end at the Lucia Mar School District office, where a school board meeting will begin at 5 p.m. The board will hold public comment and then go into closed session to meet with labor negotiators.

Recently, the district received a $6.6 million increase to its $80 million budget. District officials plan to spend $2.3 million of those funds on tutors and services for disadvantaged students.

The average Lucia Mar teacher makes an annual salary of $61,000. Teachers received a 2 percent raise in 2012/2013 and a 4.3 percent raise in 2013/2014.

Both sides are scheduled to meet with an arbitrator on Friday.