EEEA Resolution Supporting Unification of EUSD and EUHSD, 2011

Whereas, we believe unification of EUSD and EUHSD would result in improved student achievement through a clearly articulated K-12 education plan for college readiness; and

Whereas, we believe unification of EUSD and EUHSD would create a single, more financially stable unified school District; and

Whereas, we believe unification of EUSD and EUHSD would result in streamlined educational offerings, including a single school-year calendar, for Escondido children and their families; and

Whereas, we believe unification of EUSD and EUHSD would provide increased options for current and future employees, therefore increasing a Unified District’s ability to hire and retain the best and brightest; and

Whereas, we believe unification of EUSD and EUHSD would result in a more unified Escondido Community.

Now, therefore,

On behalf of all members of the Escondido Elementary Educators Association (EEEA), the EEEA Representative Council respectfully requests that the School Board Trustees of EUSD and EUHSD take the actions necessary to initiate the process of unification of the Escondido Union School District and the Escondido Union High School District.

Based on the plan rates comparison, what are your thoughts on the issue of tiered vs. composite rates for employee health benefits?

To clarify:

• Tiered rates are when employees pay different rates based on the number of folks in their families they want to cover. For example, the three tiers on the rates comparison use the tiers of :

o employee only

o employee plus one (spouse, child, partner, etc)

o employee plus family

• Composite rates (what we've traditionally used in the District) are when all employees pay the same rates regardless of whether or not they cover only themselves, a spouse/partner/child, or if they cover a family.

Please use this to discuss the current issues related to School funding and reform.

Diane Ravitch's Answers Bill Gates' Questions

Here is the link to the article:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/diane-ravitch/ravitch-answers-gates.html

Feel free to discuss, comment, or ask questions below.

Proposed EEEA Dues Increase

The EEEA Board of Directors and the EEEA Representative Council have unanimously approved a proposal for a $3/month dues increase to take affect for the 2011-2012 school year, followed by an additional dues increase of $3/month to take affect for the 2012-2013 school year. This increase, combined with operating budget cuts in excess of $60,000 will allow us to maintain and build on the services we currently provide members. All dues resulting from this change will go exclusively to the EEEA the operation of our local Association.

According to the EEEA bylaws this must be put forward for a vote by all EEEA members. This will take place in February. Site Reps are prepared to answer questions in order to facilitate clear and accurate communication.

Please discuss and post comments below.

Bargaining Discussions

This is the place to discuss any topics related to recent bargaining events. Feel free to discuss the agreements related to furlough days, the move to VEBA, the Safety language being added to the contract, and any other issue related to bargaining.

Bargaining Update-6/4/2010

The District and Association bargaining teams met and negotiated for the 7th time on June 2nd. Our final scheduled dates are: June 8th & 9th. The following counter-proposals were made:

District: Work Hours/Work Year and Salary (includes furlough days); Early Release Thursdays

Association: Felicita Transformation model

To date, no Tentative Agreements have been reached. “It has been slow-going but we are making some progress,” said EEEA Bargaining Chair Phil Lutgen, a math teacher at Del Dios Middle School. According to Phil, “The EEEA Bargaining Team has been working hard. We are trying to finish out the year in our classrooms and still complete this monumental task. It was energizing to see and hear the support we got from EEEA Members at the last School Board Meeting. We feel like this year, EEEA Members are more knowledgeable, involved and supportive, and that makes a big difference at the negotiation table. We worked hard to fashion our proposals around the issues that are important to all of us.”

WHERE THE PARTIES STAND:

ASSOCIATION – Regarding CUTS: District cuts must include contingency language that ensures that if the District’s actual ending balance exceeds what they have been projecting, the excess will go to restoring furlough days. Also, any additional revenues that are realized (i.e. the Federal jobs bill currently being debated in Washington, DC) will be used to restore furlough days so our students get the instruction they need. Finally, concessions made by the Association should be accompanied with District compromise.

DISTRICT – Regarding CUTS: The District wants five (5) furlough days for the 2010-11 school year, which would mean a reduction in pay equal to five days salary, as well as five fewer days of learning for our students. They want to begin bargaining for 2011-12 in January of 2011, despite the fact we don’t usually have an approved State Budget until July or August and their projections have been highly inaccurate. At the last School Board meeting one of the Board members insisted that next year they would be seeking additional concessions, even though the economic outlook and the need for future cuts is highly uncertain.

EARLY RELEASE THURSDAY’S: The District has made some movement here but still refuses to recognize the original intent behind the Early Release Thursday mutual agreement, which was to stop holding meetings that go beyond the contractual day.

SAFETY: The District admits there are problems in our schools related to follow-through on discipline, safety and consistency, but isn’t interested in trying to correct the problems with contract language. They have discussed some non-contract solutions (such as another District committee) but have yet to put forth a proposal. We disagree, and have insisted they address these problems in the contract, where such provisions belong.

FELICITA: The Association has legitimate concerns about the way changes at Felicita have been handled. There are some things the Association and District teams agree on such as per-diem pay for the additional forty (40) minutes per day of instruction time. But too much of what has happened at Felicita so far seems to be the result of questionable decision-making and an apparent unwillingness to work together. This has required the Association team to make sure there is language in the agreement that assures that Felicita teachers are evaluated and treated fairly, unlike what happened with the new principal’s interview process for current Felicita teachers. Despite several District threats to implement a different model of reform if we can’t
reach agreement, the Association remains hopeful for a resolution that will allow the District to move forward in this voluntary process. We are also insisting that Felicita will be a one-year deal only. The parties would then revisit this agreement annually to determine if changes or adjustments are necessary.

Other Issues: Special Ed added authorization for Autism; pay for IEP meetings outside the contractual day; Association Rights (president’s release time); Sick Leave; Reduced Workload were discussed.

For proposal language, please visit the EEEA Website at:
http://eeeassoc.org/contracts-negotiations/negotiation-updates