By Theresa-Marie Wilson

Lucia Mar teachers will vote this week whether or not to accept a contract agreement forged between their union and the district.
Following months of contention and a threatened strike, the Lucia Mar Unified Teachers Association and the district have reached a tentative contract agreement.
“This agreement is the result of hard compromise after countless hours of dedication by our negotiating team,” said LMUTA President Donna Kandel in a news release. “Our focus has been on getting a settlement, and, if at all possible, avoiding a strike. Our Association has always assured our members that they would have the final say, and this tentative agreement will allow them to weigh in democratically.”
The agreement was reached following the release of a fact-finding report conducted by a neutral third party. The LMUTA and the district meet for a third mediation on April 8. Teachers will have three days to voluntarily vote online. If passed, the agreement will go to the Board of Education for final approval.
The proposed agreement is for a 3 percent raise, effective April 1, and an additional 3 percent increase after January 1, 2016.
Should the teachers vote down the offer, both sides could return to the bargaining table.
LMUTA members have been without a contract since June 2014 and asked for a 10 percent raise in line with a 10 percent increase in funding the district received over last school year under the state’s new Local Control Funding formula. The district originally offered a 2 percent increase.
Following the second mediation meeting on March 25, the district offered a 6 percent increase over three years: 2 percent retroactive to July 1, 2014; 1 percent on July 1, 2015; 2 percent on March 1, 2016; and 1 percent effective January 1, 2017.
The union declined the offer and voted to strike.
As of press time, the ratification place vote had not taken place.