Schools
State Steps Into 2 Week Old Union City Teachers Strike
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond joined the talks Friday as the end of the school year looms.
UNION CITY, CA — The state's highest-ranking school official stepped in Friday to help bring an end to the New Haven Unified School District's teacher strike, now in its ninth day.
With the end of the district's school year looming on June 13, a spokeswoman for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said he's eager to see the strike wrapped up.
"This is not typical of the superintendent of public instruction to be this involved (but) he was kind of feeling like it had gone on long enough," said spokeswoman Kindra Britt.
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Thurmond has sat down with negotiation teams in three other teacher strikes this year, including the Oakland and Los Angeles strikes, both of which ended with contract offers that were ratified by the teachers unions.
The threat of students potentially not being able to participate in graduation ceremonies and other end-of-year activities "really struck a nerve with him," Britt said.
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"I am happy to do what I can to help with this strike, but I want it known that my priority is to end it," Thurmond said in a news release.
"And I will do what I can to encourage all parties to stay at the table until a resolution is reached, preferably as soon as possible."
Teachers originally asked for a 10 percent pay hike over two years, but are now proposing cost of living adjustments of 3.7 percent for this year and 3.26 percent for next year, according to New Haven Teachers Association officials.
The district originally countered with a 1 percent raise for 2019-2020 and a one-time 3 percent payment, along with an additional raise of up to 1 percent if it was able to add up to $2 million to its budget.
The district is now offering a 3 percent increase for this year and a 2 percent pay hike in January 2020, according to district officials.
At 3:30 p.m. Friday, the district sent this message to all district staff addressing funding issues:
Q: Does the District have $26 million available for a salary increase?
A: No. The District closed the 17/18 fiscal year with an ending fund balance of $26.14 million. This ending fund balance, less State-required reserves and designations of $13.59 million, leaves $12.5 million in undesignated reserves that could be allocated based on needs and priorities of the District. It is imperative to remember that these figures are for a single fiscal year and are snapshots in time.
As of the latest District financials, which is the Second Interim Report approved in March, the District multi-year budget projections include planned budget reductions of $3.9 million and $4.7 million for 19/20 and 20/21, respectively. It is critical to note that even with these reductions, the District projects deficit spending of $4.95 million and $2.52 million for the same two out-years.
The Alameda County Associate Superintendent of Business Services, Mr. Raul Parungao, acknowledges and affirms this information. Importantly, he stated that undesignated reserves of $12.5 million are one-time in nature and advises against these funds being spent on on-going expenses like employee salaries.
Q: If the District accepted NHTA’s current proposal would it jeopardize the fiscal solvency of the District?
A: Yes. The current proposal from NHTA for 18/19 and 19/20 is estimated to cost the District $17.6 million over a three year period. While the proposal is for two years, the District is required to present a three-year balanced budget, subject by review and certification by the Alameda County Office of Education, and ultimately, the California Department of Education.
This proposal by NHTA exceeds the District’s framework by approximately $11.6 million. This means the District will be required to make more cuts for 20/21, in addition to the estimated $4.7 million already planned. If the District does not have the ability to make the required reductions, the District’s Budget would be certified as qualified or negative.
— Bay City News
