Week of February 12, 2024

Updates From Across the Units

Teacher Negotiations

While this contract doesn't expire until August 31, 2025, I have recalled the last team to start formulating a plan for this contract. The process will now wait until I have a discussion with AFT. Over the past 20 years or so, AFT has lent us a Chief Negotiator to assist with negotiations. Before reaching out, I discussed and worked with the previous team on how we should proceed. We are going to be looking to either secure our own negotiator who is local or see if AFT can provide one for us, but hoping they are also somewhat local. There have been many benefits associated with having a third-party on the team. Our team knows the contract well, and also knows our members well, but sometimes being so close to the contract can be a detriment. Having a third-party who is knowledgeable in negotiations, contract language, and can see from the outside looking in has been helpful to us. I have reached out to AFT to set up a call to discuss our request.

Paraeducator Negotiations

The Paraeducator Negotiations team will meet for the first time since ratifying the last contract on Tuesday, February 13th. The current contract does not expire until June 30, 2025, but that is closer than we think. It would also be nice to have this contract ratified by the close of school in June 2025, so paraeducators can start the 2025-2026 school year with a ratified contract. We will be discussing how to reach out to the members and getting feedback on what's important to be included in the next contract.

Secretary Accrual Grievance

Earlier this year, I filed a grievance on behalf of the unit over the accruals. As you may recall, in the previous contract, we were able to negotiate paid lunch, which will increase the number of work hours per day from 7.5 hours to 8 hours. We believe that the accruals you earn, which are listed as days in the contract, should increase from 7.5 hours a day to 8 hours a day. The district disagrees and has denied the greivance. As it stands now, we are working to schedule a formal hearing before the Board of Education. Contractually, the hearing should be held within 15 days of request, but scheduling of the Board, the District, and the Union has complicated things. As soon as we have a date scheduled for the hearing, it will be sent out.

Food Service Negotiations

The Food Service Negotiations team has met several times and has proposals prepared to present to the Board's negotiating team. We are currently working on scheduling those upcoming meetings. When dates of those meetings are set, they will be shared with everyone.