Sequoia District Approves Furlough Days

After months of negotiation, The Sequoia Union High School District Board of Trustees approved shortening the work year for all its employees by two days, deciding that work furloughs would be the best way to alleviate the deficit in the budget for next year.

This decision means employees at Menlo-Atherton High School and the rest of the district will only have to work 185 days. The furglough days, which will be August 22, 2011, and January 9, 2012, will be unpaid. Classes will not be in session either day due to previously scheduled breaks.

According to a district report, the contract will feature previously agreed upon step and column pay increases, but no new raises for teachers. The district has already approved $5.03 million in budget balancing actions, including eliminating 33 full-time jobs, in an attempt to close its deficit going into the upcoming year.

The Sequoia District Teachers Association began negotiating with the district administration in last winter, reaching an agreement on the last day allowed for contract discussions, according to Greg Gruszynski, union representative.

"It took a long time, there were frustrating moments, but I felt it was a positive experience," Gruszynski said.

He thanked the administration and staff for collaborating with teachers during the negotiations, and working out a deal that he said he believed was fair for both sides. Regarding agreement on the furlough days, Gruszynski said it was a difficult for the union to accept.

"This was not an easy thing," he said, of agreeing to the furloughs. "But they were a result of cuts in funding from the state."

An overwhelming majority of the teachers union favored ratifying the contract, he said. Ultimately, Gruszynski said he was happy with the final terms of the contract, and the process leading up to the board's approval. He also said the process should set a standard for future negotiations.

"We, as the teachers union, feel it is a good example of collective bargaining," he said. "I believe this is an example of the way we need to proceed."

Trustee Chris Thomsen thanked the bargaining teams of both the district and teachers union for being able to agree upon a contract during a difficult economic environment.

"The biggest asset the district has is its teachers," said Thomsen. "And we want to support that is every way we can."

He said he was disappointed that the union had to suffer pay cuts due to the furlough days.  But he agreed with Gruszynski in regards to hoping that these negotiations set a precedent for future bargaining.

"I hope the spirit of cooperation endures," said Thomsen.

Trustee Alan Sarver attributed the drawn out negotiation process to the bargaining teams updating terms in the contract that needed to be addressed, rather than rolling over the previous contract, as was done during the previous negotiation. He also expressed appreciation to the bargaining teams for coming to an agreement that each side deemed fair.

"Thanks for the work both sides put in," Sarver said.

Trustees are expected to approve the district's final budget document for the upcoming fiscal year at the next board meeting June 22.