Culver City Teachers Agree to 7% Pay Raise

Teachers in Culver City on Tuesday ratified a contract giving them a 7% pay raise this year, increases in the school district’s contribution to health plans and certain lifetime health benefits.

The school board announced its support for the contract Tuesday night.

Under the agreement--approved on a 137-88 vote--the district will increase its contribution by 8% for teachers who are under a fee-for-service medical plan. But because the total costs are higher, a teacher’s payment for individual coverage will still go up from $47 to $56 a month, said Bess Doerr, president of the Culver City Teachers Assn.

Beginning teachers’ salaries will rise from $24,000 to $25,680. Teachers with 20 years’ experience will see their salaries climb from $43,300 to $46,331.

The agreement adopts a new state law in which teachers can buy into Medicare by paying 1.45% of their salary, which will be matched by a district contribution. To supplement Medicare, the district will pay $1,250 a year for health insurance for each future retiree age 65 and older.