Ending 14 months of uncertainty and stress, the teachers union
and Aromas-San Juan Unified School District signed a tentative
agreement Wednesday.
All parties involved
– the union president, superintendent and Board members – were
relieved to have a compromise.
”
I feel good we settled,
”
said Trustee John Ferreira after the Board voted unanimously to
accept the tentative agreement at its monthly meeting Wednesday
night.
Ending 14 months of uncertainty and stress, the teachers union and Aromas-San Juan Unified School District signed a tentative agreement Wednesday.
All parties involved – the union president, superintendent and Board members – were relieved to have a compromise.
“I feel good we settled,” said Trustee John Ferreira after the Board voted unanimously to accept the tentative agreement at its monthly meeting Wednesday night.
Union President Barbara Brown expressed her happiness to have an end to the 14-month stalemate.
“It feels good to have a settlement and not be at odds with the district on a constant basis. It’s a relief that it’s over,” Brown said. “I’m pleased to have come to an end of the long process. We’ve discussed some ways to change what we can do next time. We’re looking forward to building trust again.”
The contract for certificated staff affects 83 teachers. The old contract expired June 30, 2002.
Through negotiations, the most pressing issues were salary and benefits. The union was pushing for a 3.56-percent pay increase for the 2002-03 school year. The tentative agreement gives the teachers a 2-percent increase for half of the 2002-03 school year and an additional 2-percent raise starting February 2004.
Trustee Jeff Hancock voted for the agreement, but did so only because it “appears to be what the teachers want, even though it looks like a reduction in ranks,” he said.
“It was a compromise for us and for the district,” Brown said. “It’s under what we wanted for the time being, but in the long run, it’s acceptable to us.”
The tentative agreement gives teachers full benefits, Brown said. The district was considering sharing some of the double-digit increases in health insurance costs with the teachers through a benefits cap, Brown said.
The compromise gives teachers a raise but also keeps spending within the district’s small budget. The budget is shrinking because of less funding from the state government.
The agreement goes to a vote by the teachers and to the County Office of Education for analysis on its impact on the district’s budget.
Although the teachers contract lasts for three years, negotiations take place each year. The 2003-04 negotiations start in January.
In other business:
– Anzar High School senior Matt Wilkinson was seated as the student trustee to the Board at the meeting. Wilkinson gave his student report on happenings at Anzar and issues regarding students. He also voted on some of the Board’s action items.
– During her report, Superintendent Jackie Munoz updated the Board on the district’s construction. The bus barn should be completed soon and the Board’s December meeting will be held at the new building in conjunction with the ribbon cutting.
Munoz also addressed concerns about the bus barn being over the contracted deadline. Construction is past deadline because of weather, a strike involving Graniterock and because the district requested value engineering that saved $40,000.
Also, Munoz discussed results of a staff survey about changing the district’s school calendar. Because of Average Daily Attendance funding, Munoz stated that because of finances, the district is looking into ending the school year earlier. The ASJUSD usually ends school during the third week of June. The district may have to look at changing the three-week winter break and one-week intersession that follows.
“Financially, we need to end the year earlier,” Munoz said. “I think we’ve heard from the community that we need to try in every way possible to end earlier.”
The survey will be distributed to parents on advisory committees and clubs.
– The district is looking at creating an assessment technician to take over testing and student assessment. Currently, the director of special education is in charge of student assessment, but is unable to do it all, Munoz said. The new position would be part time.
– The Board got held up on approving a revised Role of the Board Bylaw. The bylaw came out of meetings that discussed the roles and responsibilities of the Board. Hancock had modifications and additions. Differences between Board members flared up again as some did not like or agree with Hancock’s changes or their implications.
The next Board meeting is Dec. 3 at the district’s bus barn located across from the district office, 2300 San Juan Highway, at 7 p.m.
