PRPE President’s Message                                                                                       June 2010

     As this year ends, our students are our greatest reward.  The state and federal government see us as a diversion from their collective failure to support our children’s future.  We see a landscape full of bailed out institutions that produce nothing but materialism, while our future is reduced to a beggar’s role.  I know everyone from students to teachers to support staff to administrators and school board members are profoundly sorry for the pain and suffering we have all felt, but most importantly for the staff members who have lost their jobs.  We continue to work with the district administration to bring back as many people as possible, but even the loss of one educator is a tragedy and that loss has been compounded many times over.

     There is always finger-pointing in a time of adversity. I could outline how the effects of Prop 13 that were so direly forecast in 1978 have now come to fruition.  I could rail against paralyzed state legislators who waste time on a blueberry commission while our entire infrastructure is crumbling.  I could detail the financial missteps taken by previous district administrators that impact us today.  I could point my finger at a school board that refuses to give the community the democratic choice of a parcel tax to support its schools.  There is much blame to go around and more to come I’m sure, but as a teacher I must have a positive perspective.  I always try to offer hope for the future while I also offer constructive criticism to achieve improvement.

     We will reach a negotiated agreement with the district covering the next school year.  We have met for three full day sessions and we have made progress on financial transparency, improved contract language and salary concessions to address the difficult budget situation imposed upon us by others.  We will meet again in mid-August in the same spirit of cooperation that we have had at the table so far.  Everyone must know that our two goals are to protect the core academic instructional program and to keep our district financially solvent.

     Many people are interested in the topic of furlough days.  Furlough days were never the only option to solve our budget crisis.  At best, they are a part of a comprehensive solution.  The idea that our mammoth problem would be solved even if we took all of the furlough days possible is a myth.  We have not rejected furlough days as a part of a comprehensive solution for next year.  We simply do not have enough information to make an informed decision.  We need a state budget, enrollment figures for next year, and perhaps most importantly the unaudited actuals that include the revenues and expenditures for this year which in turn then clarifies the dollar amount the district has to begin the year.  I want to make it crystal clear that PRPE negotiators have never, and I repeat never, been formally presented with any proposal that outlines an agreement linking furlough days with job protection.  As it stands right now, next year will be the second year in a row that there has been no salary increase and with inflation that will again mean a pay cut for all.  In addition, as it stands right now, next year we will have an amount that is 3 times larger than it is now deducted from our paychecks for health benefits.  That is another pay cut.

     It is apparent that some members of the school board believe that larger class sizes and reduced resources along with no opportunity to increase incomes through adult school or summer school as well as the pay cuts mentioned above are “not enough of a sacrifice”.  We respectfully do not agree.  In particular, our K-5 schools have suffered the most from the budget crisis and related job losses that devastatingly impact class sizes.  PRPE will not participate in the blame game.  We will continue to press for a solution to the crisis through the shared sacrifice exemplified by the sacrifices made by the staff listed above and by the concept of a parcel tax so that the community can show its support for the schools attended by its children.  Our children’s education has been severely affected through the increased class sizes, the reduction in library, computer lab, and counseling services, as well as a freeze in instructional materials expenses.

     We all know there will be more cuts and pain next year.  The pittance that teachers earn through stipends for all the valuable extra work they do is also a proposed cut.  Enough is enough!

     Please call or write your elected representatives and make it clear that you will not vote for anyone who does not support public education.  That support is demonstrated by deeds and not words.  This includes Sam Blakeslee, who has supported state corporate tax cuts while at the same time supporting reduced funding for our schools.  This includes Congressman Kevin McCarthy who has never met a corporate welfare program he doesn’t like, but regularly opposes increased education funding.  Check out their records for yourself.  In particular phone or write Kevin McCarthy about the education jobs bill that is currently pending in the House of Representatives.  Ask him pointedly how he can support tax breaks for large corporations like BP and tell teachers that there is nothing he can do to help them.

     Most of you are aware that we are a program improvement (PI) district and we will receive funding pursuant to that which mandates that teachers receive the appropriate training for newly adopted curriculum.  That training will occur beginning on 8/9 and ending on 8/12 of this summer. I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity because it is something you deserve.  I fully realize that the $100 a day is not equal to curriculum rate and that many people already have summer plans.  However, this training is provided to classroom teachers so they can access the newly adopted materials that will be provided to each and every classroom.  I have also been assured by the superintendent that all principals will attend this training as well, so they are aware of the materials scope and how to advocate for classroom teachers to receive all the support they deserve.  I’ll see you there.

     Finally, I want to thank everyone who has made this difficult year as successful as it was.  The most important people in that category are you, the classroom teachers, who dedicate your lives to serving our students and our community.  Our union also owes a very large debt of gratitude to the officers and school site representatives who work many long hours to serve their colleagues.  Your K-5 Vice-President is Terry Dyksinski (KK), your 6-12 Vice-President and webmaster is Fred Kloepper (Liberty HS), your indefatigable Treasurer is Robert Skinner (PRHS), your Recording Secretary is Nanette Carminati (LMS) and your Corresponding Secretary is Samantha Brossette (FMS).  Your Membership Chair, Melissa Will, has worked long and hard hours this year to update membership lists and file membership applications. She is one of the fine teachers who received a pink slip and we are heartbroken, but also hopeful she will return. Our site representatives are KK John Hagy, GB Willow Running Hawk and Elizabeth Hernandez, PB Mary Roberts, VP Beth McGill, WP Sheila Wynne and  John Beccia (he is retiring and will be sorely missed but somehow I think we’ll see him around) as well as Maribeth Bonomi, LMS Maggie Tatman, FMS John Hutchings, PRHS Shannon Gidcumb and Velva Hakim, Specialist Stephanie DeQuattro and finally BS Jillian Johnson (another fine teacher who received a pink slip and for whom our heart aches)  Your PRPE Negotiations Team has met many, many times to prepare for our difficult bargaining sessions with the district and to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude as well:  Lisa Tate, Chair (KK), Brigid Woods (WP), Kathleen Saxby (VP), Jenny Martinez (LMS) and Robert Skinner (PRHS).  I also want to thank our superintendent, Dr. Kathy McNamara, for her willingness to cooperate and listen to our perspective.  We meet with her and her team on a regular basis to try to solve problems in a pro-active way. Although we do not always agree or even readily find solutions we have a good working relationship with Dr. McNamara, Greig Welch and Gary Hoskins as well.

     It will certainly take all of our collective efforts to find solutions to the myriad of challenges that face us, but we will never give up on our students.  A summer of discontent approaches, but our commitment to education never waivers.

Jim Lynett, PRPE President