Happy June...

Happy June, everyone! After a winter that was reluctant to leave and a spring that was cooler and rainier than usual, I am determined to stay positive about the heat, humidity and grass-cutting that typify the summer months.

I know this is my second blog post for the month, but I feel compelled, so that you may examine both sides of this discussion, to respond to the advertisements placed by the CCEA union in the Mountaineer Herald and the Tribune Democrat.  Basically, if you have not seen the ads, the teachers’ union feels it is time to end the “…School Crisis in Central Cambria!  ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!”

The Board and I agree with this sentiment.  We too would like to end the stalemate and move on with the education process.  Unfortunately, this is where our agreement ends.  The ad lists six “facts” from the union’s perspective.  Allow me to present my own “fact check” on the “facts” put forth in the ads.  Please know that most of the fact checks I will be detailing are clearly outlined in the Fact Finders Report that has been available to the public since last summer.  A link for the report is listed on our district website, http://www.cchs.k12.pa.us/documents/FactFinderReport.pdf.

Fact Check #1 – Contrary to what the union may state, the Board has not been playing political games during this process.  The Board is committed to settling the contract and has bargained in good faith since the start of negotiations in 2012, conceding on items like the length of the contract and the salary schedule.

Fact Check #2 – The District’s negotiating team has never refused to schedule meetings.  As I am the point of contact for setting up meetings, it fell to me to set meeting dates/times as requested; this I did without fail.  At the May Board meeting, a union representative stated that the Board was asked for a meeting date and never responded.  Knowing that I hadn’t received such a request, I investigated and found that the request had been emailed to our solicitor and not to me. My sole reason for pointing this out is that it is an example of the minor issues that are being used to cast the district’s negotiators in a negative light. A more appropriate first reaction might have been to redirect the request to the proper recipient.

Fact Check #3 – Neither the Board nor I have ever walked out on a negotiations session.  Some sessions did end abruptly when the union acknowledged that it had brought no proposal or counterproposal beyond that discussed at previous meetings.

Fact Check #4 – Upon casual glance, our district’s reserves look “healthy.” But the total figure ($12 million dollars) does not represent “extra” money.  $6.3 million dollars rest in our assigned fund, which pays for all district retirement expenses, bond payments and future operating expenses.  $6 million dollars in our unassigned fund is used to cover all of the salaries, benefits, special education costs not supported by the State, PSERs increases, and day-to-day operating expenses; to take this money for other purposes is ill advised as these expenditures must be paid. 

Fact Check #5 – Yes, we are hiring a Curriculum Director—a position that is not new but reinstated. This person will keep our district’s curriculum up to date and monitor its effectiveness. Because state funding is tied to our students’ academic performance, this is a job that needs more attention than it had been given in the past. Contrary to statements made in the ads, the district has not eliminated teaching positions; in fact, we created a technology coaching and alternative education position; both of these are teaching positions.  All of the seven teachers who retired/resigned are being replaced.

Fact Check #6 – Budgets for classroom supplies have remained constant and have not been cut, nor are they to be cut for the upcoming school year.

As we continue to meet and work toward resolution of the collective bargaining agreement (we have had 28 formal negotiation sessions), I want to note that, contrary to the statement that teachers have been 1200 days with no contract, the actual number is fewer than 900 days (negotiations began in January of 2012). While this is a seemingly minor detail, please allow me to use it as an example of the need to think about what is said or written before accepting it as truth. As ever, my door is always open and I always respond to phone call and email messages.  Enjoy the warmer weather.  Dr. D.