Huntington Beach : Teachers’ Union Official Assails Board Newsletter

The president-elect of the high school teachers’ union has blasted the district’s Board of Trustees, charging the members with failing to recognize the positive contributions of Marina High School faculty members and a former principal.

Jerry Tolman, who will become president of the District Educators Assn. in June, told the trustees during a recent meeting that an article in the board newsletter about Marina High School being chosen as one of California’s 10 outstanding secondary schools failed to give credit to the faculty or former Principal Paul Berger. That omission is symptomatic of the widespread disregard shown to teachers, Tolman said.

The newsletter, Board Briefs, noted last month that “Principal Ira Toibin and selected school representatives have been invited to Sacramento to receive recognition. . . .”

“Would it be too rash to suggest that teachers at Marina played some part in this?” asked Tolman. “Might former Principal Paul Berger deserve some of the credit?”

Toibin was named principal last year after the district fired Berger against the wishes of hundreds of parents, teachers and students.

District officials said Friday that there is no doubt everyone involved at Marina now or in the recent past--principals, teachers, students and staff--deserve credit for the achievement.

Doug Scott, president of the 582-member teachers’ association, said everyone is “really proud of the fact that Marina received the recognition it has so long deserved. The whole history of the school has been one of excellence.”

In his comments to the board, Tolman said salary negotiations with the district--currently at an impasse--are also indicative of the low priority in which teachers are held. He noted that teachers are blamed for any shortcomings in the educational system.

The Huntington Beach Union High School District has offered the teachers a 1% salary increase for the coming year, while most other employees received 3%. The teachers are seeking 5%, Scott said. A state mediator is scheduled to meet with both sides on March 26 in an attempt to reach an agreement.

“We hope the one session with the mediator will be all that’s necessary,” Scott said.