MBUSD declares impasse over salary dispute
The Manhattan Beach Unified School District declared impasse on Friday after failing to reach an agreement with the Manhattan Beach Unified Teachers Association regarding teacher salaries. The teachers union asked for a nine percent salary increase for the next academic year, or a 10 percent increase over three years. The district’s final offer included a one-time, two-and-a-half-percent increase, and an on-going half-percent increase associated with a mandatory staff development day, said Superintendent Mike Matthews on Tuesday. “We’re going to look very carefully at this election in November,” Matthews said. “If it turns out the (tax initiative) passes and our funding is not damaged, we’ll look very seriously at making that an ongoing raise.” According to the union, the two-and-a-half-percent, one-time bonus for the next academic year was offered in conjunction with a less-expensive healthcare plan. “We want it on the schedule so it happens year after year,” said Adam Geczi, Mira Costa teacher and chair of the Manhattan Beach Unified Teachers Association bargaining team. “Why would I give up something that is going to reduce my paycheck on an ongoing basis so I could get a bonus…
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