Norwalk-La Mirada teachers demand adequate compensation
Dual - language teachers demand the school district increase the supplemental dual stipend as Benton musical theatre actors watch during the board of education meeting on Monday. Photo by Vincent Medina
NORWALK - Teachers demanded better compensation alongside parents who called for the transparency of allocated funds during the Norwalk La-Mirada Unified School district board of education meeting Monday evening.
During public comments Jose Manso, a dual-language kindergarten teacher at Dolland Elementary School, began by demanding the school district increase the supplemental dual stipends. He was accompanied by additional dual-language teachers in the district including Loren Aguirre, a fourth grade dual-language teacher at Edmondson Elementary School.
Dual-language teachers receive a stipend of $1,591 a year, according to Manso. He also noted the district offers a stipend of $3,182 a year to combination teachers, who teach students from two consecutive grades in one classroom.
“A combo teacher plans for two grades. We plan and translate every day for two languages,” Manso said. “Our qualification is that we hold a [Bilingual, Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development] BCLAD credential while the combo teachers don’t require any extra qualifications. We should receive the same compensation.”
He continued to explain that dual-language teachers must search for additional materials that may not be available in Spanish and need to be translated. Dual-language teachers also translate communication to the families and daily home notes, and some parent conferences must be translated by them as well.
Aguirre also addressed the board, focusing on the new Spanish dual-language program in La-Mirada and illustrated the intricate planning that goes into the program from the teachers.
“For the last four years dual-language teachers at Edmodnson have met after school for at least an hour twice a month to plan and collaborate. Our school site has compensated us for that planning,” Aguirre said. “However, our principal informs us that due to budget cuts we will no longer be paid for after school planning. Without planning time the momentum of what we have accomplished may not be able to be sustained.”
Erin Berry along with parents of students within the NLMUSD arts program also expressed their frustration with the board of education over the allocation of Proposition 28 funds. Under Prop 28, California must establish a new ongoing program supporting arts instruction in schools starting this academic year.
“As a parent with children who are passionate about the art program of their prospective schools, I have asked my admin, the superintendent and assistant superintendents where the money that our schools should have received has gone,” Berry said. “I was given non answers by everyone and sent an email saying that NLM has a strong arts program but no details.”
During the meeting, the board of education was invited to the Beauty and the Beast musical theater production at Benton Middle School by the student actors. Jeremiah Berry as The Beast, Lucia Churchill as Lumiere and Elizabeth Chastine as Belle presented the board with their invitations in full costume.
The district was unable to respond to requests for comment.