December 9, 1997

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Trost) RE: SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES RECEIVE EARLY PAYMENT OF RETROACTIVE WAGES Employees in San Diego City Schools will receive a down payment on retroactive wages later this month as the result of an agreement between the district and all employee bargaining units. Superintendent Bertha O. Pendleton announced the retroactive pay at the Board of Educationıs regular meeting today. The checks will be mailed Dec. 18. Nearly 20,000 checks totaling approximately $9 million will be issued. All employees who worked during the 1996-97 school year (July 1, 1996 through June 30,1997) will receive the retroactive wages. The pay increase comes as part of the salary settlements negotiated with employee groups in 1996. The balance of the retroactive wages covering the July 1997 through March 1998 period is scheduled to be paid in April and permanent adjustments will be made to salary schedules effective April 1. The December retroactive payment will total 1.8 percent of an individual employeeıs 1996-97 salary. The amount of the April payment will be based on final calculations that are due from the state in March. Under terms of the negotiated employee contracts, the retroactive wages were scheduled for payment in March. Early payment was arranged by the district and representatives of the bargaining units. ³Iım very pleased that we were able to reach agreement with the employee organizations to make the bulk of the retroactive wages available to employees before their winter holiday,² Pendleton said. District employees at school sites will be on winter break Dec. 22 - Jan. 2.