CNTA REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

January 19, 2010

CNTA 2nd Floor Training Center, 1189 Mountain Avenue

Minutes taken by Mike Testo, State Council Representative, and Beverley Rouse, Secretary

Minutes prepared by Beverley Rouse, Secretary

 [Minutes are not official until approved at the next Rep Council.]

 

I.          CALL TO ORDER—President Bill Fisher called the meeting to order at 4:00 P.M.

 

II.        APPROVAL OF MINUTES—Vince Flores moved to approve the minutes from December 15, 2009.   Kelly Hutchins seconded.  The motion passed. 

           

III.       REPORTS

A.    President—Bill Fisher reported on the Listening Sessions and a new on-line survey that will be available until this Friday, January 22, at 4:00 P.M.  He said that no decisions have been made and that CNTA still needs to have member input regarding layoffs versus furlough days.  Members will ultimately decide between furlough days and layoffs.  He said that the governor’s newest budget requires that an additional $13 million must be cut from the district’s budget in addition to the $18 million that the district and CNTA already knew about.  Bill encouraged everyone to participate in the on-line survey.  Members will be notified next week of the survey results.  

B.     High School Director­­—Julie Cooley is forwarding survey information to CNTA.  She thanked members from Roosevelt and the other high schools.

C.    Support Services Director—JoAnn Ritchie met with Linda White about issues related to speech and language therapists.

D.    Treasurer—Anne Freeman presented the income statement.

E.     State Council Representatives—Mike Testo said the next meeting begins on January 29, 2010.

F.     Vice President—Toni Sandell thanked members for participating in the Listening Sessions and encouraged people to participate in the new on-line survey. 

 

IV.       OLD BUSINESS

A.    Negotiations Update—The MOU for the Intermediate Banked Minutes should be completed this week.  The intermediate school day has been now been defined specifically.

B.  Other Old Business—None.

 

V.        NEW BUSINESS

A.  A+ Insurance Presentation—Members heard a presentation from this CTA endorsed insurance   telling the special benefits A+ has to offer to teachers.

B.  Listening Session and Organizing Update—Toni said that almost every school has had the listening sessions.

C.  Governor’s Budget Proposal Update— Joe Krause, CTA Support Staff

1.   More Budget Cuts—The governor has already proposed all the probable cuts to education.  According to the governor’s budget, the district will have $13 million less than previously thought, meaning the district must save $31 million, in addition to the previously proposed $18 million.  There is no real expectation, he said, that the federal government will bail out California.  Previously the district said we could choose between five furlough days and layoffs.  Now, they don’t know yet how the budget will be balanced.  Now the district is looking at the entire list of Tier 1 – 5 put together by the advisory committees, since it must cut so much more money than originally planned.

2.   RIF Process—The district will probably have to go through the RIF notification process because of the timeline and the financial mess.  Though the RIF notification process will happen in March, the actual layoff process will happen in May after the state May budget revision.  The district must balance the budget for at least three years in advance, so the district must look at layoffs as a way to save money.  The district can do layoffs without negotiations, but everything else, including salary cuts, must be negotiated.  Teachers who are laid off can work as substitutes, and after 20 days, they will get full daily pay and benefits.   The district has different seniority lists for specific credentials.  For example, the list of seniority for math teachers is different from the list for elementary teachers.    Last year’s list of RIF seniority has changed because some credentials have changed.  Teachers should make sure the district knows about all their credentials, supplementary credentials, and any willingness to teach using a different credential.  Anne Freeman, last year’s RIF Committee Chair, said that the point system for RIFs is used to determine the layoff order of those with the same seniority; within that, those with identical points and seniority are put in a lottery.

3.   Governor’s Proposed Changes to Ed Code—The legislature can change the Ed Code with 50% plus one vote.  The governor has proposed eliminating seniority and using “skill” as a way to decide who gets layoff notices.  Although August layoffs are legal, they don’t happen very often, but the governor wants districts to have up to 60 days after the budget passes to finalize layoffs.  The governor also has proposed that teachers not be put at the top of the substitute list if they are laid off.  California is now in the middle of the state in tax burden, but is approaching the lowest for support of schools.  The governor’s proposals are a change to the Ed Code, which would make these changes permanent.  Because Jeff Miller, the legislator from Corona, listens to teachers and constituents, members should contact him. 

4.   Watch for E-mails—Toni said to keep aware of what is happening at the state and district level.  Watch for e-mail from CNTA and the district.   CNTA hopes to hear from enough members soon to know whether members want CNTA to pursue furlough days.  The maximum number of furlough days that teachers can take is ten.  A member asked if CNTA is going to respond to the district’s most recent e-mail.  Bill will send out information as soon has he has accurate information, since he doesn’t want to send out inaccurate information just to be quick.   

D.  Site Rep Training—Joe Krause said reps don’t have to give their opinions or answers to everything they are asked.  Reps are messengers and can refer members to CNTA if needed.   

E.  Rep Listening Session—Reps who didn’t get “listened to” can join Joe, Buzz, and Anne downstairs instead of joining the break-out sessions.         

E.  Other New Business—None.

 

VI.       ADJOURNMENT—The meeting adjourned at 5:20 P.M.

 

VII.     BREAKOUTS—Reps met for breakouts with the Elementary K-3, Elementary 4-6,  Intermediate, High School, and Support Services directors.