November 7, 2012
Dear CUSD School Board,
The two bargaining teams have not met since the last School Board meeting. Our first mediation session with Stephen Pearl, the PERB (Public Employees Relations Board) appointed mediator, is scheduled for December 6th.
Now that Proposition 30 has passed, we hope the District will reconsider their position regarding medical benefits. To recap CUTA's position:
In '08/'09 CUTA proposed to go from Silver (more expensive plan) to Red (less expensive plan) for the 9/10, 10/11, and 11/12 school years allowing the District to keep the savings. Those savings, along with the savings from the four furlough days we agreed to, amount to somewhere between 3 � and $4 million. CUTA agreed to this in response to the District's projected budget crisis and impending state takeover that fortunately, for us all, never occurred.
CUSD began the '08/'09 school year with a $12.8 million fund balance, but had projected this year,12/13, to begin $7 � million dollars in the red. Good fortune prevailed. Instead of starting this year $7.5 million dollars in the hole, we started with a positive fund balance of $20.8 million dollars. That is $8 million more than we began the '08/'09 school year with when this all began. We gave CUSD close to half of that $8 million dollars and we're asking for about $250,000 of it back this year.
Regarding elementary prep time:
Using elementary teacher's prep time to solve the District's substitute problem is unacceptable to us. There are other solutions. The District may consider raising substitute pay closer to what it was here 25 years ago. Or, you may want to consider permanent subs at each site. This would have an incredible impact reducing lost instruction time when a teacher is out. On-site subs would know the kids, programs, and procedures of the school. They would be part of the staff, not a stranger that kids tend to "test".
However CUSD decides to solve the sub problem, having teachers show up to their site first on their prep days, in case their school is short subs that day, is not the answer. It's a misuse of their time.
The District has stated that one of its goals is to improve relations with its employee groups. We are trying to give you that opportunity. In the past we used a tried and true formula. When negotiations reached impasse, we would get out the buttons, t-shirts and picket signs and rally the troops. Although these activities worked, it created an adversarial relationship between CUTA and the District. In the long run, I don't think that's good for anyone. We have purposely not gone that route. We would much rather work with you than against you. I hope it works. If not, at least CUTA can say we tried.
Sincerely,
Kevin Moretti
CUTA President
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