S.D. school board approves union contract
By Maureen Magee/San Diego Union Tribune
The San Diego Board of Education approved a contract with the teachers union Tuesday, authorizing a pact that will cut five days from each of the next two school years, raise the cost of health insurance and cap class sizes. The labor agreement comes after nearly two years of sometimes heated bargaining and replaces a contract that expired in 2008. “Nobody can celebrate this contract when it calls for furlough days and raises the cost of health care,” said board President Richard Barrera. “But we are making a commitment that when times get better, we are going to do some really good things for students and teachers.” The school board voted 4 to 0 to approve contract, with trustee Katherine Nakamura absent. (more...)