CUSD Teacher Negotiations: Mum's the Word for Now

As Capistrano Unified School District officials head into contract negotiations, the priority is shrinking class sizes and restoring school days to the academic calendar, trustees said Wednesday at a school board meeting.

However, with a $20 million deficit projected for next year and a desire not to show their hand, trustees couldn’t make any promises.

“Everybody here wants the best for our kids, and we’ve given direction to our negotiating staff to do that,” said Trustee Lynn Hatton.

On the agenda were the topics school districts and union leaders want to discuss in the next month as they seek to craft new contracts. They were couched in very broad terms, such as hours, class sizes and wages and benefits.

Four parents spoke, all of whom were critical of a history at Capo that they said showed favor to employees at the expense of students.

Mom Terri Mostert said that she understood the district’s stretched finances have put everyone in a tough spot. She also said her children have great teachers. But , are taking their toll.

“The teachers willingly admit that their lessons are not as thorough as they once were, and they say it’s due to class sizes,” Mostert said, adding that the district’s first duty is to “provide an education, not a workforce.”

Several trustees said they would like to decrease class sizes and add more instructional time – the district offers 175 school days this year as opposed to 180 in 2011-12.

“I for one share a feeling that I believe is shared across the board here that class sizes are a problem,” said Trustee Jim Reardon. He vowed to work to get the best deal possible for the students.

“We’re at the beginning,” he said.

The district, which has to have an approved budget for the 2013-14 school year by June 30, is looking for another one-year contract with the teachers. When school districts cannot show they have a multiyear plan, the Orange County Department of Education monitors its finances, as it's done with Capo for the past several years.

Superintendent Joseph Farley agreed there’s not a lot anyone can say yet.

“It would be inappropriate to have really specific language at this stage in the game because it is negotiable,” he said.