July 14, 2010
Dear Member,
As you may know, the School Department has not yet closed a $3.6 million budget deficit for the 2010-2011 year. On Monday night July 12th, the School Committee met and discussed the budget; however, the Committee did not vote on a final budget. We hope that the budget will be finalized at the next School Committee meeting, which will be on Monday, July 19th, at Keith Middle School. The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. We urge you to attend this meeting.
On July 7th, the School Committee, acting through the Superintendent of Schools, requested a meeting with representatives of the New Bedford Educators Association for the purpose of discussing a wage and step freeze proposal. On July 8th, the New Bedford Educators Association Cabinet scheduled a meeting with the Administration to discuss the proposal. On July 14th, the NBEA Cabinet met with the Superintendent and the Chief Administrator for Finance and Operations. At this meeting the Cabinet had a meaningful discussion with the Superintendent and Chief Administrator for Finance and Operations about the proposed budget/cuts as well as the request for the NBEA to consider concessions.
As a result of this meeting, I will convene a meeting of the NBEA Board of Directors on Wednesday, July 21st to discuss the proposal. It is my expectation that at the conclusion of this meeting, the Board will decide how to proceed. Please be sure to read all correspondence from the NBEA this summer to stay informed.
On a final note, our best hope for getting some of the cuts restored is for the federal government to approve new stimulus funding for states. If you have not already done so, please contact your US Senators and ask them to approve federal FMAP and educator jobs funding to protect our schools and our jobs. Go to http://capwiz.com/nea/issues/alert/?alertid=15205681 and urge the Senate to act now on education jobs funding.
Sincerely,
Lou St. John
Meeting of the New Bedford School Committee
July 12th, 2010
Report of Budgetary Cuts
The following is a summary report of what transpired at the School Committee meeting:
Ø The school committee voted to restore the position of Superintendent of Equity & Diversity.
Ø High School Freshmen Sports was suggested for elimination but denied considering the savings would only be approximately $20,000.
Ø The nurse position, which had been eliminated and restored at a previous budget meeting, was discussed again. The Chairman of the School Committee stated that this position will be maintained and that this position will not be discussed at future meetings.
Ø The school committee voted at Dr. Lawrence Finnerty’s suggestion that grant funding be utilized for direct services in place of conferences or other such professional development.
Ø It was stated that 57 teachers will be laid off due to the elimination of the Literacy and Math Coaches at the elementary schools and those coaches returning to the regular classrooms.
Ø According to the mayor, 55 more teachers will have to be laid off, if a pay freeze is not accepted by the unions.
Ø On Wednesday, July 14th, the Transportation sub-committee will be meeting to finalize the transportation budget, in which it is projected significant extra revenue can be saved.
Ø The possibility of a furlough day(s) has repeatedly been brought up by several members of the school committee as an alternative option to be discussed with the unions.
31 comments:
Lou,
Thank you for keeping us informed about the budget meeting, the request by the school committee for a pay/step freeze, etc. However, you did not mention where the Union stands on this issue. Can you let us teachers - union members- know what the Union's take is on all this? Just wondering.
How will ALL union members be able to participate in this discussion? I think the members at the lower end of the seniority list will have a very different opinion than those at the top, and both opinions must be weighed.
I want thank our president
Lou St.John for all his hard work during these trying times. I am confident that he will do the best he can for all union members.This is not an easy task.I'm sure he is spending countless hours going over the options that will best serve all involved. He has proven that he is a man of integrity!
I second lucky7's response. Lou is an asset to the NBEA!
Lou is the MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I appreciate all of Lou's hard work and dedication, we're lucky to have him as a president.
It is a sad day when we allow the school departments fiscal crisis to divide the unions membership. It is without a doubt that we all have differing views because of differing circumstances.
As much as everyone wishes this would go away, it isn't. The mayor and the school committee have an agenda. Whether we like it or not they do. That is the one thing I am clear about. Go to the meetings and see for yourself. Nothing else is clear. As a matter of fact, the figures keep changing from week to week.
As a union member I do not want to make a decision without having all of the facts, in writing. I would like to know exactly what positions are being cut and if we choose to forego our increase what positions would be put back. I would also like to see the same info if we decided on a two day furlough. Without that information, in writing from the school department, I am hesitant to make any decisions that will affect myself and my colleagues who are getting ready to retire. This decision will affect those people for the rest of their lives.
It is my understanding that a furlough program will not have a negative impact on the retirees. There is a provision in state law that allows for it.
There are other things that need to be finalized by the school committee before a furlough should be considered.
I would hope that the union members would be able to vote whether or not to accept the pay freeze. We all have different money issues and I think we should all have a voice. And I agree that it is important to know what jobs will be saved and which ones will not. It makes no sense to have one classroom with over 30 students if another class only has 13. It should be in WRITING so they don't come back with more changes. And what will happen next year with the school committee predicting more of a hardship next year than this year. What will they do to us next year?
Any updates from the Transportation Sub-Committee meeting...it was mentioned that significant savings may be realized at this meeting?
Lou-your hard work and dedication is greatly appreciated!!!
I believe it is important that all lines of communication are kept open and detailed information is provided to all parties whom these decisions will affect. What about having a poll like the past surveys we've done?
I empathize with new staff for I have worn those shoes for many years, as well as, paid my dues. Many including myself have spent years substituting, while needing to pay college loans, because we couldn't attain a contractual, permanent position. Our positions have also been cut year after year due to budget issues. I do not recall ever being offered pay freezes and furloughs to retain our jobs. We perservered through the years of uncertainty and challenges doing what we had to do. Although I can identify first hand and do not want to see teacher cuts, this is nothing new.
We have bargained hard to attain certain rights and monies. I am fearful that if we give in at this time, and the grant and revenue monies come in in Aug., that they will not reverse the freeze, but use the money for other things. Every person has their own story - single parent, one income household, retiree, etc. Can I live without the extra $80-100 mo. while my health ins., dues, taxes, etc. continue to rise? Maybe - I'm not sure. Someone mentioned that people are reducing their wages to keep their jobs - excuse my boldness - but isn't it their own job that their fighting for. Like I've said- I've been there done that. I don't mean to sound arrogent, just honest.
I feel any discussion about freezes should start at the top and work its way down and include all school personel. I'm sorry, but could someone explain why the teachers are the first to be asked to give up their well deserved monies(even if it is a mere $20 wk) to save our schools. This burden seems awfully heavy and rather unfair. Then, the trump card is laid out - teachers don't care. Of course we care about our children, the learning environment, and their progress. Isn't that a given. Honestly, who would take on such a task if their heart and soul wasn't in it?
I could accept and wouldn't mind a few furlough days - don't we do that already - going to school throughout the summer, 2 weeks prior to school starting, and any other time you can get in. I do not want to see large classes where all will lose out. I think Dr. Francis' idea of grant programs such as utilizing the senior coaches for new class programs is a great idea for all. Class sizes should be equally disbersed within the system-with magnet programs offered with the stipulation that it will not unfairly increase class size of certain schools. There should be a balance!!
Lou: It seems that there is an issue with IE and posting to the blog. Posts will only go through using Firefox.
If there is one thing I have learned from my many years working in NB is that there is no equity. (Kind of ironic that they just supported the hiring of a superintendent for equity and diversity!). So if you think think they will actually look at class sizes across the district and try to make them somewhat equal, then you probably are not a veteran. The school committee has their own agendas. No one knows what they are, but as usual it is not to benefit the students. (It is to make them look good) SO taking that into account and the fact that they have simply refused to discuss any recommendations given to them by a lot of other people, including the principals, it is obvious to me that they simply want us to take a pay freeze. I am sick and tired of sacrificing for the NBPS. I am tired of listening to the arrogance of the people in charge. I am tired of spending countless hours and my own money doing what is best for my kids in my classroom. I am simply tired. I say enough is enough. Cut us all. Lets call their bluff. We are damned if we do and damned if we don't anyway. We need to stick to our contract. I have an agenda as well. I need to keep my own children under a roof and put food on my table.
Last year the mayor told the police and fire that if they took freezes there would be no layoffs.
They accepted the deal and layoffs happened anyway.
What's our guarantee?
Why is this being discussed in the press?
To CAT and everyone else. You are absolutely correct. There will be no guarantees. They make promises they dont intend on keeping and then come up with excuses as to why. We can not trust where our money is going. We will never get it back either.
"I think Dr. Francis' idea of grant programs such as utilizing the senior coaches for new class programs is a great idea for all."
I'm sorry, but could you clarify what you mean by this? I have been to every sc meeting and the academic coaches were eliminated and placed back into classrooms (and eliminate 57 other teachers). She did not state that coaches would be placed under a different grant doing a different job. What she said was that title 1 would be utilized for computer aided instruction. In other words, she is taking out the elementary coaches and using that moeny for a computer program to "fix" things. I just hope you are all aware of one thing. If she put back the coaches and paid them out of title 1 that would be a savings of 2.9 million to the local budget. Add that with her two day furlough and you have your 3.5 that they were looking for. Unfortunately she wants her computer program and does not care about the elementary schools. Maybe when we are all level 4 she will care.
I'm sorry-maybe I did misunderstood Dr. Francis' statement to Mr. Finnerty or whomever she was speaking to on the mtg. before last re: the computer-aided learning classes. I thought I heard her refer to the possibility of utilizing the coaches in this format, but I could definitely be wrong. But, it does sound like you have a wise and wonderful idea on how to save money and teachers, and close the budget gap. Mayor Lang and the lawyer guy there(sorry-his name escapes me at the moment)were both adament on "if anyone has ANY ideas on how else we can get 3.5 mil, please let us know". I've heard a lot of good ideas on this blog. I would love to see an open mtg. with this type of dialogue and sharing of ideas. It seems that the 'sc mtgs' have lengthy agendas with a lot of talking where you can't even hear what they're saying, and no real dialogue/input/exchanges with the audience aside from the 2min. blurbs.
The principals gave them a list of suggestions and many other people sent in letters with suggestions. (Most of them were pretty good too!) The SC asked for help, but when push came to shove the reality is they don't want to hear it. The only thing that they want to hear is that we will take a pay freeze. Its a quick fix. They want it done now the easy way, on the backs of the teachers....
Computer-aided learning classes are not a new idea. It seems that Florida, among other states, already has this mode of "instruction" in place. Basically, replace teachers with computers. Students come in to school, log-in to the computer & stay there for the day. "Teachers" walk around to keep order in the room and analyze data. Some programs may permit teachers to assign lessons, while most programs assign lessons based on student data. There's plenty of literature out there in regards to this subject and it's all a direct result of NCLB. Makes me think that the lack of respect the school committee is showing us is just one indication of the direction they could be taking - replace us with computers (thus, shrink payroll).
has anyone heard how things are going and how we/the union stands on the payfreeze issue?
To the previous post. Why not give your opinion as to what should be done?
I don't want 40 kids in my child's class so I think teachers should give up raises to keep class size down.
How about raising taxes to keep class size down?
No, don't raise taxes. I pay enough in taxes.
To the anonymous person(7/19)whom asked that I state my opinion- as a matter of fact I have written several blogs with my personal feelings. But obviously being anonymous, you wouldn't have known that. I was merely asking if there were any new updates seeing as there's a school mtg. tonight and haven't received any emails from Lou yet. I thought this was an informative space to share and exchange thoughts. Didn't realize that by simply asking a harmless question would stir someone in such a way. (P.S.-raising taxes??-surely you jest :)
New Bedford residents contribute 1% to the school department budget. 99% of all school money comes from state and federal sources. Please don't make serious people laugh by saying you don't want to pay any more in taxes. If the city jumped to the incredible level of 3% of the school budget none of these cuts would be necessary. People want top level services for budget prices. You don't get to drive a BMW for Hyundai dollars.
To "let's raise taxes"-that's a first, for me anyway. Don't want to get into a tit for tat, but seriously - don't know your financial situation-but mine is definitely not BMW. Actually I drive a 12 yr. old car and pay 3,400 in taxes. Best to u. :)
Lou, here are some ideas for concessions in preparation your meeting with the sub committee on Wednesday.
1. Have all union A/B members give up their step raises for one year. This will allow veteran members the privilege of not bearing the same burden as teachers entitled to step increases.
2. All unit A/B members forfeit one personal day this year.
3. All unit A/B members forfeit one sick day this year.
4. All unit A/B members take a 1% cut in this years pay raise.
All these suggestions will still result in a modest increase for all members while providing a significant savings.
Relinquishing PD days is a bad idea since each PD day we forfeit equals a reduction of 1/180th of our salary, a substantial wage loss.
Good luck and keep us updated.
The idea of no step increase, a 1% pay cut, and the loss of a personal day is far more Draconian than anything else that has been proposed. Our salary is for 185 days not 180. Giving up 1, 2, or even 3 days of PD as a worst case scenario is far less devastating to a salary than a pay freeze. Saving 358k a day for no PD is a significant amount of money. Remember any pay freeze you agree to now will NOT be restored when extra funding makes its way to the system which will happen. The federal government has over $400 billion of unspent stimulus money...you must know this money will make it to every system across the US soon. Don't give in to a pay freeze. Money is coming.
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