January 13, 2005

 

Pre-Negotiations Update: The Board has yet to commit to the use of a mediator during the upcoming round of negotiations. We have employed a mediator (Rob Stein) in every round of negotiations since 1996 with very positive results: we have settled contract talks on every occasion well before the start of school in the fall, and in every instance but one, we have finished prior to the end of the school year. Next week, Mike, Larry Vuillemin and I will be meeting (at our request) with the board president (Paul Allison), the chair of the board’s personnel committee (Loretta Haugh), the board’s legal counsel (Steve DeVita), Superintendent Sylvester Small and Human Resources Director Connie Hathorn. The purpose for the meeting is to determine the district’s intent with respect to participation of Mr. Stein in contract negotiations.

 

Here We Go Again: It should come as a surprise to no one that the district is in desperate need of new sources of operating money (translated: property tax levy). Within hours of the new board president’s announcement of the need for such a levy, the issue has been taken hostage by the Mayor (see today’s BJ). In a nutshell, the Mayor wants to have new buildings open to the public after school hours—a truly noble and not uncommon idea—but the problem is the he doesn’t like how much custodians would be paid to work overtime hours in order to keep the buildings open. Not our problem. The irony here, of course, is that lost in the verbal jousting and the Mayor’s threat not to support a levy is the generally miserable state of the district’s fiscal affairs and the impact it has on the classroom. Little things like losing close to 400 teachers over the last three and one-half years (resulting in much larger classes), not having enough textbooks, paper, etc. Hopefully, if and when a levy is put on the ballot, cooler heads will prevail and we will have the support of the Mayor.

 

Continuing Contracts: Members who have become eligible for continuing contract status must notify Corine Ricks of the fact prior to March 15 in order to have continuing contract protection this spring. Members should keep a record of the notification.

 

Pay Upgrades: Official transcripts are due in Human Resources by January 31 for members qualifying to move across the salary schedule for the second semester. Transcripts must be mailed to Lynne Crumrine, or delivered in a University sealed envelope.

 

Building Progress: Progress on the new office is moving right along. All interior walls are in and being painted. We are probably going to be relocating in mid-to late February.

 

Secondary District Rep Elections/Officer Positions: All secondary school seats on the Board of Trustees are open for elections this May, as are all officer positions. See handout for Trustee positions.

 

ULP Dismissed: SERB has dismissed an Unfair Labor Practice Charge filed by a member against AEA and the President.