CAT Tracks for April 19, 2002 NO PAY? TRUCE?

APRIL 30th PAYCHECK:

Memos were delivered to the four union presidents yesterday morning...with a "cc" to the Principals, Board of Education and Ilene Pierce. This memo was later copied and distributed to ALL employees in at least two buildings. The memo stated:

"At this time it is very probable that we will not be able to meet the April 30th payroll. We are experiencing a serious cash flow problem. We are negotiating with a financial institutuon in an effort to borrow enough money to meet this payroll as well as future payroll obligations.

Part of the problem with obtaining funding is that we have very limited borrowing capacity, thus limiting the possibilities of what can be achieved. We will continue in our efforts to secure funding."

The timing of this memo is VERY suspicious!

On Wednesday night - as on previous nights - a cash flow problem was mentioned "in passing"...that the District was exploring the possibility of borrowing money to address the problem. AT NO TIME DID THE BOARD TEAM TELL US THAT IT WAS VERY PROBABLE THAT WE WOULD NOT GET PAID ON APRIL 30TH! However, the day after they tell us that there will be no more negotiations...to take their offer or leave it...they put out a memo designed to "scare" employees...to impress upon YOU the dire straits that the District is in!

Question: What happened between 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday night and 10:30 a.m. on Thursday morning to bring the District to crisis status? It wouldn't be a desire by the Board for the teachers to accept a pay cut for this year, would it? This memo has been forwarded to IEA legal services for review and the Board was informed personally that the CAT viewed its issuance as a blatant act of intimidation.

And speaking of legal services...

BOARD OF EDUCATION CALLS FOR TRUCE!

Last night was the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education. I went to this meeting with the intention of giving my "speech" to the full Board...the same speech that I gave to the Board team the night before. After they indicated that they were through negotiating, I reminded them of the "history" of the District...the lasting devastation caused by the last work stoppage...the need to sit down together...to be creative...to explore possible options that would resolve the differences that separated us. As reported yesterday, their blunt answer was "NO".

BUT, as I awaited my turn, the Superintendent presented reports to the Board concerning square footage figures for the respective buildings...with particular emphasis on the high school industrial arts area. Discussion turned to the consideration of closing the Garrison central office complex and moving it to the high school shop area. Board members expressed a desire to close the Garrison building in order to reduce the operating cost of the District...by $12,000 a year. However, the price tag of such a move was given by the Superintendent as $100,000! The Board members did NOT even blink..."We will take this under consideration".

When the "visitors" section of the agenda arrived, I stood up to address the Board. I expressed the concern of the CAT that the Board had chosen to end negotiations with its teachers...repeatedly saying that "the money is just not there!" BUT...that when it came to their "pet projects":

That's a total of $178,000 that the Board has mentally accepted to be expended on ITS "priorities" for next year...but not another dime on YOU!

The reason I did not get to my "speech" is that I was stopped and told that I was negotiating in public. NOT SO! I was simply pointing out the inconsistency of their position...no money for employees to avoid a work stoppage, but $178,000 for administration, lawyers, and offices! That was when I was issued a "one minute warning"! They had heard enough.

After an hour-and-a-half in closed session, the Superintendent issued a statement "for the record". He assured everyone that "the express concern (of the Board) was to provide the best education for the kids of the school district as possible. But...that the financial problems of the District are as is." The Superintendent went on to say that the Board was "willing to declare a truce with its unions...to forego legal representation if the unions would cease litigation." As far as negotiations were concerned, the Superintendent said that the Board was "willing to sit down with any union at any time to explore realistic solutions." The Superintendent said that the Board's refusal to accept the financial analysis presented by others did not mean "that we (the Board) are bad guys...just trying to be responsible." The Superintendent went on to say that "Further, if numbers cannot be agreed upon, the District is willing to have the numbers looked at by a third party...a CPA...whose expenses would be shared by the parties - with the understanding that the findings would be accepted by the parties. The Superintendent closed his remarks by stating that the Board was "willing to return to the table with CAT...to seek realistic solutions.

Now...the question is...was this statement JUST "for the record"...or was it sincere? On Wednesday night...even after a request for clarification by CAT...the answer to further negotiations was a resounding "NO"! Twenty hours later, the message was still the same...including a "one-minute warning" to stop talking. Was this statement by the Superintendent simply for PR purposes and/or a legal position recommended by the attorney in attendance? As in...we (the Board) don't want to be on record as refusing to negotiate...offer another (sham) session...we (the Board) can then say we tried...but they walked out.

We don't have an answer to these questions.

Maybe a confirmation of this "offer" will be forthcoming. On behalf of the Board, the Superintendent declared a truce...with ALL of its unions. PROBLEM...there were no representatives of three of the four unions present. Therefore, either they will not know...or they (and us?) will receive the written terms of the truce/offer. Hopefully, by the time we meet on Monday afternoon, we will have received clarification of the situation.

Yes...We are still on for Monday, April 22nd, in the CHS Cafeteria at 3:30 p.m. Decisions WILL be made...BE THERE!