[Editor’s Note: The President of the Teachers Union reports the state of contract negotiations to his members and to the community.]
Friends,
Just a quick update from the union.
First, as you know, we've dodged the LAUSD permit bullet — for now. At last night’s School Board meeting, the Board instructed the Superintendent to begin a review of our permit policies so that we can be prepared in the event that LAUSD, a year from now, withholds permits.
Also at the meeting, I invited CCUSD to return to the bargaining table.
As you know, the parties have declared that talks are at “impasse,” and we've requested a mediator from the state. The word from the state mediation service is that they have a large group of districts seeking help. They are weeks (or months) away from assigning a mediator to Culver City.
We don't want to wait.
We have told the School District time and again that we are willing to take five unpaid furlough days next year. But we want administrators to take eight days and our classified support staff to take just three days.
Simply put, it's a progressive tax. Those who earn the most pay the most. Those who earn the least pay the least.
We also want to continue talks relative to our other issues:
Elementary prep time, evaluation procedures and class-size limits for our special education classes.
We reminded the Board that even though the parties have declared “impasse,” there is nothing to prevent the teams from getting together again. I'm hoping they will see that it is in their interest to sign off on these furlough days and that asking managers to take just three more days, which they can take in July or August, is a reasonable proposal.
Don't hesitate to contact me by email (davidmielke@ccusd.org) or by telephone, 310.837.5760 if you have questions or concerns.
