As I am certain you are all aware, there is trouble afoot. The district budget has a two million dollar problem, and we are trying to work things out. The Board of Education has appointed a new negotiations team, in Dr. Aponik’s absence, of Nancy Gasisch (Director of Personnel), Greg Bowman (Deputy Superintendent), and Ali Kiafar (Chief Facilities and Development Superintendent) as a core group. In addition, they have appointed principals Gail Copeland (Elementary) and Bruce Osgood (Middle School) as team members.
We met with this group on Friday, March 22, following Elementary Open House and the School Board meeting. The district’s negotiators stated that the Tentative Agreements (TA’s), signed this school year by Dr. Aponik and myself will be honored and ratified by the Board of Education. Those TA’s include: Article II Recognition (allows for our participation in the development of plans and selection of the outside consultant for II/USP schools), Article 9 Hours of Employment (lunch of 90 minutes on pupil free, non-staff development days), Article 17 Personnel Files (splitting off of Complaint Procedures), Article 23 PAR (allowed for the committee to meet outside of school hours), School Calendars for 2002/2003, 2003/2004 and Monterey, as well as a Side Letter of Agreement (which allowed for the distribution of award money to II/USP schools earlier this year).
At our meeting on March 22, we TA’d: Article 5: Complaint Procedures (spells out procedures and timelines), and Article 9 Hours of Employment (recognition of the 1 hour a.m./p.m. kindergarten teachers provide partner support). We will continue to work on the existing Side Letters of Agreement (Salary Schedules, 4/5 Planning, and Evaluation).
Where Do We Stand?
As of this writing, we have scheduled a joint meeting with the CSEA negotiations team and the district to review the budget and get our questions answered. Denise Jennex (our Executive Director) has taken the district’s budget to CTA consultants for analysis and has taken the lead on getting a handle on this issue and its impact in our classrooms and lives. BTA leadership (Co-Presidents and Board of Directors) has been hard at work, as well as this negotiations team in resolving the evolving district’s budget and leadership crisis. Please watch for the hot pink Budget Crisis Updates at your site. They contain the most current information regarding these situations and the Association’s response to them. It is in your best interest to stay informed and active as we resolve this serious situation.