Manteca Unified has taken care of all of its employees with increased compensation packages approaching $13 million overall.

Among the last groups the board approved new wage and benefit terms for was the California School Employees Association.

The board last week blessed a 4 percent across the board raise that was part of $1.5 million in overall increased compensation. for the CSEA that represents support staff such as clerical, bus drivers, janitors, maintenance workers, mechanics, information technology, secretaries, food service, and similar workers.

It was on top of last year’s dael that brought all classified employees up to the 50th percentile ranking in terms of pay compared to like districts that MUSD compares salaries within the immediate region. Like districts are similar in size, demographics and socio economics although it also includes Stockton Unified due primarily to its proximity to Manteca Unified. That deal also included a 2 percent pay raise for this year.

The CSEA pushed for the parity adjustment even though it meant some of its members may have received double digit increases, some low single digits, and others none because they were above the 50th percentile already.

The certificated teacher package agreed to several months ago represented a $10.855 million overall increase to budgeted expenditures for salaries and benefits.

That is in addition to the roughly $1 million annually the district’s longevity and step raises cost in increased payroll expenses for teachers.

Unlike many other districts that suspended step raises during the budget crisis, Manteca Unified kept them intact. That gave teachers some pay increase when the district wasn’t in a position to approval overall wage hikes in annual contacts. It also meant that the district wouldn’t be saddled with trying to play catch-up paying teachers for step increases that would have been suspended until funding became available.

Assistant Superintendent Clark Burke noted all district employees are now making more than they did when the budget crisis struck in 2008.