School Briefs: School Cop Audit to Pali Labor News

School Cop Investigation Continues The internal investigation into the action of Los Angeles School Police Officer John Taylor is still not complete, five months after the investigation began. But ‘the investigation is nearing completion,’ said a spokesperson for Police Chief Lawrence Mannion. School Police officials told the Palisadian-Post in January, and again in February, that the investigation was almost complete. The investigation began after Taylor pepper-sprayed local juveniles and adults on September 19 outside the CVS/Pharmacy. In November, the Palisades Community Council requested that the chief take into consideration the community’s fear of the officer in deciding to reassign him out of the area during the investigation. Throughout December and early January, Taylor was temporarily assigned to a computer-training position. Since then, he has continued his work as a patrol officer, serving at public schools in the Palisades and throughout West L.A. He was assigned to PaliHi’s enrollment lottery Monday evening. UTLA Rejects 4.5% Salary Increase At its negotiations meeting last week, leaders of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) at Palisades Charter High School, which represents nearly all of the independent charter’s 115 teachers, rejected the administration’s offer of a 4.5-percent salary increase and a 1.6-percent healthcare cost increase. This was the fifth round of teacher-administration negotiations, which an insider described as ‘intense.’ UTLA has stuck with its original proposal, demanding a 12.6 percent increase in total benefits over two years. Since becoming an independent charter in 2003, the school has vowed to pay teachers higher wages and benefits than LAUSD. But UTLA said that the school’s recent offer would significantly narrow the pay difference. PaliHi negotiates its labor contracts independently of Los Angeles Unified School District. Last week LAUSD and UTLA reached an agreement that will give teachers throughout the school district a six percent salary increase on top of a 1.6 percent increase in health benefits. The next bargaining session is scheduled for March 20, and future rounds are expected. PaliHi UTLA representative Joi Tanita said that the union will not make a counteroffer until the school complies with the union’s request for financial information. Classified Workers Score Wage Victory The Palisades Charter High School Board approved a Me-Too Clause for its classified employees, guaranteeing that they receive a salary increase at least as large as all other unions on campus. All employees who are not teachers or managers are classified employees. ‘We’re a united staff,’ said Executive Director Amy Held. ‘It’s important that all employees are treated fairly and equally.’ Many classified staff lost union representation after PaliHi became an independent charter school in 2003. And since then, classified staff have worked without a clearly defined evaluation and promotional process. The board pledges to define such processes by the end of this school year. ————— Reporting by Staff Writer Max Taves. To contact, e-mail reporter@palipost.com.