District and teacher’s union at an impasse over pay

This week an impasse was declared by the Jefferson County Educators Association (JCEA) - the union which represents many Jeffco teachers.  The compensation package at the heart of the impasse was collaboratively developed by the district and JCEA negotiating teams.  Jeffco’s Board of Education supports the proposed contract settlement; the board of the teacher’s union does not and has declared an impasse.

The compensation package offered:

• A one-time, one percent payment to all teachers in the fall
• Step increases (steps are years of service)
• If the district is allowed to keep $11 million funded by the state but held in reserve by state mandate until January 2010, the one percent given as a one-time payment would become an ongoing salary increase.
• The district is increasing its PERA (Public Employees Retirement Association) contribution by .9 percent as mandated by legislation
• The total package for most teachers adds up to 4.5 percent

The teacher’s union is advocating that Jeffco use more of its reserves and federal stimulus money to give teachers a larger salary increase.   The stimulus money is one-time money that is spread across two years and cannot be used for compensation increases.  The district does have a healthy reserve balance - $160 million.  The reserves are like a savings account; it’s there when an unexpected emergency or crisis occurs.  Jeffco’s crisis began with the loss of the mill levy election and became worse with the economic downturn.  If the district didn’t have the reserves to fall back on, budget cuts for next year would be much deeper - $29 million instead of $12 million.  Those deeper cuts would mean more jobs lost. 

The district intends to use the reserves over the next five years to save jobs, keep reasonable class sizes and keep vital instructional programs that make a difference for students.  With the planned spend-down of reserves, by 2013-2014, the district’s reserves will be dangerously close to dipping below what is required by state law and Board of Education policy.

What are the next steps in this impasse?  A mutually agreed upon mediator is brought in to try and reach an agreement.  There is no date set for negotiations to continue.

Funding education - A legislative balancing act

Colorado state legislators are use to doing a balancing act when it comes to funding education, but this year’s legislative session was more challenging than usual. The big plan to reform funding for K-12 education was downsized as the General Assembly grappled with precarious tax revenues and a guessing game about federal stimulus money.

The School Finance Act, officially known as Senate Bill 256, had legislators debating the size and timing of funding cuts.  The key issue with the bill was whether there should be a $110 million reduction in the overall increase in state aid to K-12 schools next year, or as the Senate proposed, a $150 million cut. After much debate it was decided to give school districts the $110 million – but the funds can’t be spent until Jan. 29, 2010, when the state legislature reviews December revenue forecasts and decides if further state budget cuts are needed. Even more cuts could be made if the Legislature is forced into a special session during the summer due to a further decline in the economy.

The following education related bills were passed during the 2009 session:

• House Bill 1319—Creates the nation's first statewide dual enrollment plan that allows high school students to earn a high school diploma and a college associate's degree simultaneously.
• House Bill 1057—Allows parents to take time off from work to attend school functions related to their children’s education.
• House Bill 1312—Creates a loan program to help schools pay for renewable energy projects, as well as hybrid and electric buses.
• Senate Bill 90 - Seeks to improve parent involvement in education. The bill will create a state advisory council. It directs the new council to advise public education entities concerning best practices and creates a grant program to support parent involvement.

The following two bills will put Colorado in the running for additional federal stimulus dollars, which would be awarded to an unknown number of educationally top-ranked states.

• House Bill 1065 - Creates an identifier system for principals and teachers that can be used in with other data, such as individual student performance, to evaluate teacher performance, the effectiveness of teacher training programs and the distribution of high-performing teachers in different kinds of schools.
• Senate Bill 163 – Will align local, state and federal education standards so schools are following one set of rules statewide.

See the full text of bills online at: http://www.leg.state.co.us/

Jeffco Schools tobacco free

Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, Jeffco students will not be able to possess or use tobacco products at school or anywhere on school property.  Some high schools currently have “smoking pits” where students can smoke when they’re not in class.  In August, those areas will now be closed and the use of tobacco products will have consequences for the students who disregard the new smoking policy.

There will be support and intervention for students who want to stop smoking in the form of counseling and classes.  Students possessing cigarettes or any other tobacco product, will have it confiscated by school administrators.

Colorado state law now prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from possessing, using, distributing, selling or buying any form of tobacco.

Times are changing

Parents may notice a change coming in the 2009-10 school year in school start/end times.  In response to community member budget forums held earlier this year, the district realigned bus schedules to make them more cost efficient.

More than $500 thousand will be saved by streamlining bus routes throughout the district.  Nearly a third of Jeffco Schools will be affected by this change.