NEWS FROM THE TABLE
November 16, 2010
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Negotiations team met with the district for the third round of bargaining. The following items were discussed, but no tentative agreements were signed due to the District’s insistence on agreeing only to entire articles instead of portions of an article. BTA finds this stance by the district to be counter-productive since both parties have confirmed verbal agreement on many items. This leads us to believe that the district will be expecting a package agreement in the same “take-it-or-leave-it” manner that we experienced last spring. BTA would like to sign off on individual items immediately in order to make progress in these negotiations.
The district did not have a counter proposal to our October 19, 2010 proposal on raising the cap for health benefits by $2000. Instead, we were asked to look for ways to bring realized savings to the District, which translates to BTA suggesting their own cuts and bargaining against ourselves.
BTA had requested via email on October 15, 2010, that the district provide information regarding dollar amounts of the items mentioned in Resolution #10, the allocation of the Jobs Bill Funds. The BOE established spending priorities without attaching a cost or timeline for implementation. This is one-time money that can be used for compensation and benefits necessary to retain existing employees. However, the district continued to tell us that there was no information available.
BTA has submitted a written request to see a list of contracts for consultants and lawyers, the amount of fees assessed in 2009-10 and what has been budgeted for 2010-11. In addition, BTA will request information on the amount budgeted and spent on conferences for administration and management.
BTA has also submitted a second request for a current year budget presentation.
The District is having one more informational meeting on Health Benefits November 22, 2010; it will be held at the JBHS auditorium. Open Enrollment online through eBenefits will be held from November 29, 2010 to December 10, 2010.
The following changes to articles were proposed.
- Under Article 4, BTA presented language under 4.7 requiring that employee’s immediate supervisor disclose, in writing, the purpose of a required meeting and that, the employee be informed by the immediate supervisor/district representative that the member has a right to Association representation. The District refused to make changes because they felt it would “handcuff principals” when it came to wanting to have conversations with teachers. BTA asked for a counter proposal.
- 4.8 BTA asked that language be changed to ensure BTA be notified of newly formed committees or of changes to replace members on existing committees. We also asked that this section be grievable should there be a violation. District refused because they believe the phrase “will make every effort” is sufficient and did not want this to be something that could be grieved. BTA asked for a counter proposal.
- 4.10 BTA proposed new section Personal and Academic Freedom. The District lawyer advised the District that it was CTA standardized language that has been proposed. BTA asked that it be looked at and District agreed to take it under advisement.
- Article 5 is on complaint procedures. BTA’s proposal is to strike language that allows the complainant to go to the employee’s immediate supervisor instead of going to the teacher first. The District wants language to stay status quo. BTA asked for a counter proposal.
- Article 9 Hours of Employment. We asked for correct renumbering of 9.3.2.1 Agreed to this. BTA proposed under 9.3.3.1 language be stricken to reflect accurate instructional minutes of 63.525 for all grades 6-8. District agreed.
- The District proposed reducing the number of workdays by 3 days. BTA continues to stress the importance of staff development and workdays. Since BTA continues to stress the importance of staff development and work days, BTA did not agree.
- Under 9.3.4 BTA and the District each proposed to change the name of a 6:50 a.m. class from “first” period to “zero”.
- 9.4.6 BTA proposed language be stricken since Jordan Middle School no longer has the enrichment elective period. The District agreed verbally.
- 9.8.3 District proposed extended day kindergarten schedule be implemented with the approval of the Superintendent. The District proposed to strike out the language that says it becomes effective upon agreement of the site principal, all kindergarten teachers at the site and the Association. BTA did not agree.
- The District asked that 9.5 be stricken since there is no longer an Extended SED year.
- BTA proposed 9.6.2.4 to adjust compensation for Child Care employees who have been working an extra 30 minutes per day without compensation for benefits. The District said this is a one-time operational issue that could be handled through Human Resources. The item was taken off the table.
- The District proposed a clarification of language for 9.8.6 for head school nurse. 1.2 Full-time equivalent (FTE) position and paid according to STRS regulation. BTA did not see a problem with this but will be checking with the Head School Nurse and STRS.
- Due to the increase in class size in K-3 classes, BTA proposed in article 9.9 that “of fourth and/or fifth grade” be stricken to reflect that parents of all students who are receiving a “3” or better grade may opt out of an individual spring conference. This proposal will be discussed again at a later date.
- District proposed that all language under 9.10.3 and 9.10.4 be stricken since McKinley and Providencia are now air-conditioned. BTA agreed.
Both parties will return to the table on November 30, 2010. Further discussion on these proposals and more will occur.