Publication Date: Friday, January 30, 2004
SCHOOLS
Furloughs raise teachers' hackles
Furloughs raise teachers' hackles
(January 30, 2004) Union refuses to negotiate over issue
by Rachel Metz
Angry teachers aren't taking unpaid days off next year without a fight.
In a letter addressed to Superintendent Mary Frances Callan and the school board, the Palo Alto Educators Association -- which represents district teachers -- said it would not meet and negotiate over two proposed furlough days. The days would be used to help fight the $3 million deficit the district faces for next school year, and could save a little more than $770,000.
The letter was prefaced by a tense board meeting Tuesday night, where teachers -- many of whom had come to celebrate 13 newly nationally-certified teachers -- expressed anger over the proposal. Some even booed and hissed when board President Cathy Kroymann asked Palo Alto Educators Association President Ro Davis to wrap up his comments shortly after his allotted speaking time ran out.
Davis called the proposed days "de-facto pay cuts" Tuesday. Local California School Employees Association President Chuck McDonnell said his union, which represents employees like secretaries, maintenance workers and uncredentialed teachers, is considering which view to take on the issue.
In its follow-up letter, the teacher's union asserted that its collective bargaining agreement puts neither the association nor the district under any obligation to meet and negotiate on a subject matter.
Furlough days would likely come at either the end or beginning of the school year, and wouldn't shorten the state-mandated 180 days of student instruction per year. There are 186 days in the current district school year -- 180 of instruction and six without instruction. Of those six, three are paid by the state. That leaves the district with three days to choose from.
Each day could save the district about $386,000 and would affect all district employees, including the superintendent.
Facing angry teachers Tuesday, board members attempted to calm the audience and welcomed suggestions for alternatives to the furlough days.
"If there's anger on the part of anybody in the audience, I think you should rethink that because we are really working really hard to see how we can all best handle the situation," Board member Camille Townsend said.
"I don't think anyone thinks these are optimum options, and if you have other ones I'd be happy to hear them," said school board member Mandy Lowell.
Lowell did acknowledge that despite the furloughs, job cuts are still possible to patch a deficit that accounts for 3 percent of the district's budget.
Last year, the district made a point of protecting teachers when it was forced to trim about $4 million from its budget. This year officials have less room to maneuver, raising the possibility of layoffs as the process continues.
The district's deficit was created by lower-than-expected property tax revenue growth, an increase in district students and rising employee benefit costs. Aside from furlough days, the district is considering cutting its budget by using some reserve funding and making $1 million or more in other reductions.
Rachel Metz can be e-mailed at rmetz@paweekly.com
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