President’s Message - December 2011

Your PRPE Executive Board, School Site Representatives and I wish you the best of holidays and a restful winter break.  We all know how stressful and difficult these last few years have been and we hope that you and your families enjoy some special time together.

We will have to face many challenges in the coming new year and I’m sure you will all exhibit the dedication and professionalism you have always shown.  We all realize that our students are our biggest reward and their achievements are ongoing and improving. 

Our challenges remain linked to a dysfunctional state government that refuses to support the education of our children and hence our future.  We have just learned that the state will reduce our funding for this year approximately $300,000 in transportation support and $100,000 from the base revenue limit.  In addition, our district has been spending more that it has in revenues and at the 12/13/11 school board meeting certified itself with a negative status.  What that means is that the SLO County Office of Education will work with our district to analyze and internal audit of our district’s finances provided by School Services of California that will be complete in early January and along with the governor’s budget figures due on 1/10/12 for the next fiscal year develop a financial plan for the 2012-2013 school year.  This plan will have to be in place by the end of February 2012.  Our school district has not been “taken over” by the county or the state.  PRPE and the other employee groups must have a seat at the table during the development of this plan. We will work together with the district to avoid insolvency. I know that Dr. McNamara has sent out an email asking for ideas to reduce costs.  Please be assured that if you feel more comfortable, you can give ideas or comments to your PRPE site representative, a negotiations team member, an executive board member or directly to me. We will keep you informed during this process through our negotiations team.

 In addition to the budget challenges we have six outstanding grievances:

  1. Special Ed – Changes to Terms and Conditions of Employment.   Began:  10/26/10.  School Board Hearing was 3/15/11, going to Binding Arbitration.  Remedy:  Return to the table.

  2. Due Process – Skipping steps of Progressive Discipline   Began:  11/30/10.  SB Hearing 3/15/11 going to Binding Arbitration Remedy: Remove the Letter of Warning and Follow the steps in the contract.

  3. Involuntary Transfers – moving people out of order for disciplinary reasons   Began: 6/15/11.  Mediation: 11/16/11  Board Hearing: 2/7/12  Remedy:  Return the affected teachers to their former positions or offer them a choice of acceptable positions for next year.

  4. Retaliation for Protected Activities   Began: 8/10/11. Mediation 12/9/11  In discussion

  5. Evaluation -  Nine contracts violations at goal setting  Began: 11/1/11. Level 2 12/6/11  Remedy: Follow the contract.  Yes, you can change the forms but not the entire process.

  6. Due process – Skipping steps of Progressive Discipline and applying discipline without just cause.  Filed at Level One on 12/13/11.

In addition, related to the Due Process/Skipping of Progressive discipline in #2 above we have on going pattern in this area.  One HS teacher given a written reprimand with no verbal warning and no written warning.  Related to the CLAD certification two teachers given written reprimands without verbal or written warnings.  Last week, two teachers were given written reprimands without verbal or written warnings or written warnings and their grievance is expressed in #6 above. 

These ongoing grievances are going to cost the district and PRPE a lot of money when they get to the binding arbitration stage.  We know all about the pressures of PI and the budget, but these problems can be solved at the local level.  We are ready and willing to do that.

Finally,I want to thank all the people who continue to do a brilliant job in the face of such adversity: YOU, the teachers, counselors, librarians and nurses who face the challenges every day and ask so much of yourselves and your families. 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 Jennifer Lutz (VP).  Your 6-12 Vice-President and webmaster is Fred Kloepper (LMS), your indefatigable Treasurer is Robert Skinner (PRHS), your Recording Secretary is Nanette Carminati (LMS) and your Corresponding Secretary is Samantha Brossette (FMS). Those dedicated teachers mentioned above and I have just been elected to new terms and we want to thank all of the PRPE members who voted for us so we can continue to serve you. Your new Membership Chair is Steve Arnette (PRHS) Your all important site representatives are at FMS John Hutchings, LMS Kelly Green and Colleen Macklin-Musial, BS Robin Kosin, GB Shannon Gidcumb, PB Mary Roberts, VP Beth McGill, KK Charlie Berry, WP Jeanne Myers, Sandy Clarke, and Carame Koener;  PRHS Ray White, and Specialists Stephanie DeQuattro.

Your PRPE Negotiations Team has met many, many times in 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, Ruben Canales and Beth Wilson 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 and our commitment to education never waivers.

   Jim Lynett PRPE President