CUSD Teachers Clarify their Bargaining Position

Source: CUEA Talking Points

Is there a Teacher Shortage?

"National and statewide teacher shortage; only 4% of incoming teachers at UC and CSU indicate a desire to enter a credential program; This is an all-time low (previous low being 11%)"

Resource: American Institute for Research: Missing Elements in the Discussion of Teacher Shortages

"Though policymakers are increasingly concerned about teacher shortages in U.S. public schools, the national discussion does not reflect historical patterns of the supply of and demand for newly minted teachers. Specifically, the production of teacher candidates has increased steadily since the mid- 1980s, and only about half of graduating teacher candidates are hired as public school teachers in a typical year. That said, there is considerable evidence of teacher shortages in specific subjects (e.g., STEM and special education) and in specific types of schools (e.g., disadvantaged). We therefore discuss public policies that contribute to these specific shortages and potential solutions."

If there is a California Teacher Shortage why are California School Districts giving teachers pink slips?

EdSource: California Teachers get Layoff Notices Despite Teacher Shortages

"The California Teachers Association says that has led to about three dozen districts sending a combined 1,750 pink slips. These figures represent a small fraction of the more than 325,000 teachers statewide. And the number of notices is far below the 25,000 that were sent out in the peak of the recession in 2010."

San Diego Unified sent out 850 notices.

Santa Ana Unified sent out 287 notices.

There is NO Teacher Shortage at CUSD

CUSD Home page

Note: This chart only reflects "Elementary School Teachers" - not "STEM" or "Special Ed" teachers specifically.

High cost of Living in South Orange County

Source: CUEA Bargaining Up-date April 14 2017

"CUEA proposed a 2% salary increase to all unit member salary schedules. In addition, CUEA also proposed an increase to the percentage increases of the final three longevity steps of the teacher salary schedule. Our current proposal is to raise each of the last three steps (15, 19, and 23) by 1-2% over the current salary schedule."

Additional bumps in salary schedules for retiring teachers when CUSD has $200 million in emergency facility repairs that need to be fixed to protect the health and safety of both students and staff?

As of October 1, 2016 CUSD had $52 million in UNFUNDED pension liabilities.

Source: June 28, 2017 CUSD BOT Meeting Agenda Item #40 2017-18 Budget Adoption page 913

What is a "Fair" Wage for CUSD Teachers?

The Median household income in Orange County California (2016 dollars) $78,145
Source: Census
The Current Certificated Salary Schedule with Base Credential is reflected in the chart below
Source: CUEA Website

34% of our members are Baby Boomers nearing or at retirement age

CUSD offered Teamsters an Early Retirement - parity requires every bargaining group get the same... Did any teachers take the early retirement so that NEW teachers could be paid at a higher rate?

All 28 districts in OC are competing for a shrinking pool of new teachers.

FAKE NEWS - hire those teachers that are being laid off in other districts.

CUSD teachers earn one of the lowest maximum salaries in the county

"CUSD teachers earn one of the lowest maximum salaries in the county (#11 out of the 12 unified districts), while our Superintendent earns one of the highest in OC (approximately $319,000 salary alone, not including other compensation such as car allowance and pre-tax benefits."

From CUSD Web Site: Negotiations Up-date

According to CUSD, "Maximum" salary is $107,359 which would place CUSD in 8th place, not 11th. The CUEA salary schedule is showing $104,828 which would place them at 9th place, not 11th.

It should also be noted that CUSD has the lowest time to reach max salary at 23 years.

CUEA’s proposal would only bring our teachers up to the median maximum salary

Median Maximum Salary is $110,256
CUSD wants to raise salary by 2% all grades + 1% to 2% for Steps 15, 19, and 23.
That would be a total of 3% to 4% for Steps 15,19 and 23.
$107,359 X 103% = $110,579 over median
$107,359 X 104% = $111,653 over median

Superintendent earns one of the highest in OC (approximately $319,000 salary alone, not including other compensation such as car allowance and pre-tax benefits."

Source: Transparent California 2016

CUEA remains committed to providing the best education possible for the students in CUSD. Three fourths of our members live in and pay taxes in CUSD and send their children to CUSD schools.

Note: Measure M Failed - which means CUEA members were not committed to providing CUSD students with the best facilities.

We have a vested interest in the future health of this District. We find it alarming that many of the newly credentialed teachers are not even considering CUSD when looking for a career district.

Source please?

PROPERTY VALUES-

"This should also concern parents! Not only the education of our children is at stake – so are our property values, which are defined by the quality of our schools. We want CUSD to continue its reputation for having the finest teachers (CUSD teachers were recently rated in the top 6% of the state by niche.com, which compiles school district data for realtors). Being competitive in a shrinking teacher pool is critical."
Has anyone read the data re: CUSD's LCAP... NOT as Good as you think!

Source: CUSDWatch: Why California's LCAP does not work. A case study: The Capistrano Unified School District in Orange County California

CUEA is concerned about property values - yet they do not support properly maintaining facilities for staff and students.

MAKE THE CLASSROOM THE PRIORITY IN THE BUDGET:

“If you can’t see it in the classroom, it is not necessary!”

The number one component of a great classroom is the teacher standing in front of the students. As one of our members said at a recent Board Meeting, “You never hear a graduating senior look back fondly at his high school and say, ‘I had the best facilities!’ No, they say, ‘I had the best teachers!’”

Note: 4 consecutive years of across the Board compensation increases for ALL EMPLOYEES that totaled over $120 million dollars. The deferral of $200 million in EMERGENCY facilities repairs and maintenance paid for that.

CUEA's position... the Health and Safety of students is not as important as higher compensation for employees.

Change in Demographics

"The changing demographics in Orange County are causing school districts to deal with declining enrollment district. Three CUSD schools have closed since 2007-08. The number of CUEA members has decreased proportionately. However, there has been a concurrent rise in the number of administrators here."

CUSD spent almost $1 million to "RE-BRAND" 7 under enrolled schools and cancelled busing for Title I students to increase enrollment so Charter Schools would not have an opportunity to take over schools.

Increase in the Number of Administrators

"Membership in CUMA, the administrative group within our district, has risen by 35% since 2014-15. That is a trend that is concerning when the District claims to be in “deficit spending,” in spite of a projected ending balance for 2017-18 of more than $46 million."

Source: June 24, 2015 CUSD BOT Meeting page 152 of 156

2014-15 CUMA Non-Management Employees 2,093.6

Source: June 28, 2017 CUSD BOT Meeting Agenda Item #40 page 756
2017-18 CUMA Non-Management Employees 2,146.80 an increase of 53.2 people since 2014-15

DEFICIT SPENDING

Source: June 28, 2017 CUSD BOT Meeting Agenda Item #40 page 904

FUND BALANCE

Source: June 28, 2017 CUSD BOT Meeting Agenda Item #40 page 905
The Fund Balance is $46,942,362.00

However- that balance does not include the $200 million CUSD needs to fix EMERGENCY Facilities issues.

Even with a fund balance of $46 million, CUSD is Bankrupt

CUSD has $200 million dollars in EMERGENCY repairs and maintenance which Williams Complaints are being filed on. These are repairs that must be completed by Summer 2018 and have not been accounted for in the $47 million dollar fund balance.

There is NO district funded art, music or science. It is CUSD's constitutional and statutory obligation to fund instruction in all subject areas that align with California Content Standards and Curriculum Frameworks. Funding art, music and science for every student is not included in CUSD's current budget.

CUSD is required to provide reasonable class sizes, with staff to student ratios that are safe. CUSD does not include the reduction of class sizes or the retention of staff to maintain safe staff to student ratios within its current budget.

CUSD is required to provide program expansion and variety- CUSD no longer provides academic programming for high achieving students. CUSD has eliminated funding for GATE and reduced access to accelerated programing for high achieving students.

Students within CUSD are being deprived of a basic education, and are being forced to attend classes in facilities that are no longer safe with staff to student ratios that are not safe.

The Bottom Line is that there is no money being spent on the education of students.

CUSD SALARIES PENSIONS AND BENEFITS ARE 90% OF CUSD's BUDGET

Source: June 28, 2017 CUSD BOT Meeting Agenda Item #40 page 900

RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS WILL MAKE UP 11.7% OF CUSD's TOTAL BUDGET BY 2021

90% + 11.7% = 101.7% of CUSD's BUDGET GOES TO SALARIES- PENSIONS- BENEFITS
WITHOUT INCREASED FUNDING FROM THE STATE- CUSD IS BANKRUPT