Belmont Teachers and Parents Rally for Fair Contract

There was great energy as over 100 people rallied at the Oct. 23rd Belmont-Redwood Shores School District board meeting asking the board to settle a fair contract with its teachers. The teachers of Belmont communicated their plight passionately and eloquently and several parents spoke on their behalf as well.
Despite Belmont voters overwhelmingly supporting 2 parcel taxes (Measures U and R) claiming to help recruit and retain teachers, Belmont educators are suffering because the district refuses to settle a fair contract.

Issues:
1. 2 parcel taxes (Measures U 2008, and R 2013) passed with language that some of the money be used to ‘recruit and retain teachers’. Both times, over 70% of Belmont voters voted ‘Yes’. Yet teachers have received just 3.5% in salary increases over the last 8 years, and O% increase in health benefits.

2. In 2007, teachers conceded to a cap on health benefits. Since then, every dollar of health care increase has been paid by teachers. Many teachers now make less than 8 years ago!

3. BRSSD is the only local district unable to settle a contract for the past 3 years.

4. 25% of Belmont teachers work a 2nd job. One teacher shared that she is sharing a bedroom with her daughter so she can rent out the ‘extra’ room and remain in her home.

Long time teacher and former Belmont mayor, George Metropulos, described the disrespect from the school board at the meeting as “demeaning”. If there are too many speakers (over 20), BRSSD school board has a policy that allows them to reduce public comment from 3 minutes to 1 per person. There were audible gasps and one teacher broke down in tears when Board President Chuck Velschow told the room full of teachers, and their supporters, that they each were worth just 1 minute of the board’s time.

Timeline of the last 8 contracts for Belmont teachers demonstrates how the $O are adding up and affecting Belmont teachers’ ability to make ends meet and remain teaching in BRSSD.

2007-08 O% increase, hard cap on health care benefits
Nov. 2008 Measure U passes with 71.8% of the vote
2008-09 O% increase, $O for health care increases
2009-2010 O% increase, $O for health care increases
2010-2011 O% increase, $O for health care increases
2011-2012 2% increase retro to 7/1/11, and 1/5% effective 5/12
$O for health care increases
2012-2013 no contract resolution ($O added to compensation)
2013-2014 no contract resolution ($O added to compensation)
Nov. 2013 Measure R passes with 72.0% of the vote
2014-2015 no contract resolution ($O added to compensation)

Board President Chuck Velschow said he is optimistic about negotiations on Nov. 10.
Afterwards, my daughter Alice said, “Respect is more than words. You have to do something.”

Support Belmont-Redwood Shores teachers and follow them at http://www.facebook.com/brsfa

Also, email the board and Superintendents and encourage them to settle a fair contract now and keep the quality educators in our district from leaving.

Supt. Michael Milliken mmilliken@brssd.org
Asst. Supt. Nellie Hungerford nhungerford@brssd.org
Board Pres. Chuck Velschow cvelschow@brssd.org
Board VP Daniel Kaul dkaul@brssd.org
Board Clerk Sovarna Bhopale sbhopale@brssd.org
Member Amy Koo akoo@brssd.org
Member Robert Tashjian rtashjian@brssd.org