Letter to the Editor: San Rafael Elementary Teachers Disappointed with Current Bargaining of Salary and Contract Negotiations Between UTP and PUSD

We, the teachers of San Rafael Elementary in Pasadena, are extremely disappointed in the current bargaining of the salary and contract negotiations taking place between the Pasadena Unified School District and the United Teachers of Pasadena.

The Dual Language Instructional Program (DLIP) is an innovative and vanguard educational model. The Department of Education finds our DLIP worthy of a Gold Ribbon Award. An email congratulating us for Gold Ribbon is not incentive enough for us to continue investing our time and talent with PUSD as we are tired, overworked and underpaid. This accolade was made possible through the outstanding staff: who spends countless hours beyond the school day to research, create, and translate curriculum to offer a top-notch educational experience for our students.

As teachers we are highly committed to San Rafael Elementary and our District. We have invested many years, countless hours translating. creating curriculum and assessments to build a successful dual language program from the ground up. We would like the district to commit to the retention of the high caliber of teachers that our students deserve.

Many newly hired experienced teachers came to Pasadena to be a part of an innovative dual language program knowing that they would have to make sacrifices; they are soon realizing that they are struggling to make ends meet. These teachers face the difficult question of whether or not to continue their career with a district that is not willing to invest in them. Losing these teachers would have a devastating effect on our program. On the other hand, we also have a community of teachers who are forced to commute due to the high cost of living in Pasadena compounded with the lack of fair compensation. Therefore, we fear our school will be a revolving door of new teachers who gain experience and leave PUSD for higher paying neighboring districts with dual language programs, including, Montebello, West Covina, South Pasadena. Glendale, for example, offers a higher salary and accepts 11 years of service as opposed to the 7 years that PUSD accepts. Would you blame us for choosing a district that respects and compensates us for our professional experience?

Unfair salaries and unprotected teacher assignments make our District less than desirable. Our special education teachers are overworked due to the District’s inability to attract RSP and speech teachers. Adding insult to injury, Involuntary Transfers are part of the “District’s Best and Final Offer”. Currently, we have contract language that protects teachers from capricious reassignments. We already have a process in place which the administration wants to erode. Due to the fact that the District cannot readily attract experienced dual teachers because of uncompetitive salaries our current stellar teachers may be forced to involuntarily transfer to a new DLIP school. Would you want to see the Superintendent move us, your beloved San Rafael teachers, without our consent in order to help the district establish the DLIP at another location?

Now that funding is available to reward our sacrifice and loyalty it is time to give us respect via a fair and reasonable raise. Otherwise, how will we effectively attract and retain talented teachers?

Respectfully,