MUSD teachers march to protest 'stalled' salary talks

Note: Story has been updated with comment from MUSD.

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Hundreds of teachers in the Menifee Union School District marched in protest outside the district office on Wednesday regarding what they say is a lack of progress in negotiations with district officials.

Teachers and classified employees marched along Haun Road in front of the district office and down to the corner of Haun and Newport Road, holding signs, chanting and blowing whistles while passing vehicles honked in support. Teachers maintain that district officials are stalling in negotiations, although talks are scheduled for Thursday.

“The talks go by the wayside and they’ve really stalled,” said Heather Tortoreti, president of the Menifee Teachers Association. "We go back to the bargaining table tomorrow. I don’t feel good about the movement, but I’m hoping maybe we’ll have a fresh start to things.”

Tortoreti said teachers aren’t satisfied with a 4 percent raise that has been offered by district officials, and they also are upset that the district wants to increase class sizes from 30 students to 34.

“That does not sit well with our teachers, especially coming back post pandemic,” Tortoreti said. “We’ve got to do right by our students. Raising class sizes is not the answer. It’s not good for our kids.”

Teachers have walked in protest in past years during stalled salary negotiations, but never with this many joining the rally.

“We have some very talented people. How are you going to keep us?” Tortoreti asked. “People want to leave, and there’s a teacher shortage. We want to keep being a district that can compete for new people coming in.”

Tortoreti said that another issue is the staff ratio of teachers to Special Education students.

"We are also asking for support for Special Education and smaller caseloads," she said. "Also, we are requesting designated uninterrupted prep time, so teachers can focus on creating high quality lessons."

Jose Reyna, spokesman for MUSD, issued the following response via email:

"In the past two years, MUSD has agreed to 19.27 percent in certificated salary increases. In addition to salary increases, compensation in the form of health and welfare benefits has been provided as well as retirement benefits. We are eager to come to a satisfactory resolution with our labor unions."