The Rowland Unified School District has offered 700 teachers and counselors a 3.5 percent raise and an increase in the contribution to health care benefits, according to a district document released shortly before today’s board meeting.

If the Association of Rowland Educators were to accept the offer, it would cost the school district about $2.7 million, according to the negotiations update.

Both sides have met five times since September, with the latest meeting on Jan. 21 containing the district’s “comprehensive package proposal” presented to the teachers’ negotiating team.

Meanwhile, the ARE will raise the issue of Superintendent Ruben Frutos, whose performance will be evaluated by the board in closed session. The teachers union said it wants the board to begin searching for a new superintendent after a union survey said most teachers don’t want him to continue in the position.

The union representatives plans to speak to the salary negotiations and the superintendent’s performance at the school board meeting today, which begins at 5:30 p.m. for the closed session and 7 p.m. for the open session.

The district proposal would raise salaries by 1.75 percent retroactively, going back to July 1, 2013, and another 1.75 percent starting July 1, 2014. The district would also raise the maximum contribution cap on health and welfare benefits by $500 this year and an additional $200 on Jan. 1, 2015.

Beginning teachers with a bachelor’s degree and no experience earn an annual salary of $45,180 at RUSD and is ranked 18th out of 47 school districts, according to a salary survey from the Los Angeles County Office of Education dated June 2013. Arcadia Unified was No. 1 with starting salaries at $49,874; Bassett Unifed was near the bottom at $38,776. Charter Oak was last at $38,495. Please click HERE for entire story.