District Says No To August Certificated Layoffs

During a meeting with RTA President Rich Laabs, followed by a letter to all RUSD Employees this week, Superintendent Lori Rhodes indicated that she would be making a recommendation to the RUSD School Board to issue no Certificated Layoff (RIF) notices this July or August.

          It is the District’s intent to start the 2009/2010 School Year with our current Certificated Teaching Staff and programs intact.  It is also the District’s tentative plan, however, to begin a RIF process during the 2009/2010 for Certificated Staff layoffs in the 2010/2011 School Year.

          Staffing areas being considered for a reduction in 2010/2011 include; a reduction in High School Counselors, elimination of 9^th Grade CSR, and moving Primary Grades 1-3 to a 25:1 class size ratio. There will be other areas for reduction considered, such as a modification of the Elementary Enrichment Program, as the School Board scrambles to address what could be an unfunded $11 to $ 12 million dollar shortfall in 2010/2011.

          Federal Stimulus funding has become available to the District which will go a long way to addressing the budget crunch in 2009/2010.  This is one time funding however, which sets up a real problem for 2010/2011.  That said, the District’s intent is to begin making as many budget cuts as possible, across the board, during 2009/2010 in an attempt to lower the damage in 2010/2011.  While there are no planned certificated layoffs for next year at this time, our classified colleagues may indeed be facing additional layoffs for 2009/2010.

          All of the District’s plans for the next two years are predicated, at this time, on the Governor’s May Revise Proposed Budget.  We need to keep in mind that the State Legislature is responsible for producing the final budget.  There have been a variety of statements out of Sacramento this week that indicate we may actually bring a budget in on time (by June 30^th) this year.  When they do, we will have a clear picture of our finding crisis.

          In her letter to our Association members, the Superintendent stated that is was time for the RUSD Community to work together to create plans which include furloughs, freezes in step and column, or salary roll backs. ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE NEGOTIABLE, AND AT THIS TIME THE DISTRICT HAS NOT MADE A PROPOSAL TO RTA ON ANY OF THESE ISSUES.

          Currently we are busy dealing with the longest, most contentious, and adversarial bargaining process we have dealt with in a long time. The Superintendent calls for our community to come together on one hand, while she and the School Board direct their costly attorney to threaten us with unfair labor practice charges, and attempt to impose caustic and injurious contract language on our members with the other hand.  Thanks to our dedicated and reasonable Negotiations Team, it looks like we will solve the bargaining impasse that the District has created, an impasse that would have gutted our hard earned contract rights that guarantee us a real voice in decisions regarding our benefits plan.

          During the entire process, which by all rights should have been completed last October, our position has been that we should work together with the District to get through these tough times.  We have done so in word and action.

          The District has not even come close to treating us like members of an education community or members of the “Redlands Family” over the past months.  Now it appears they need and want us to consider further assistance beyond the $3 Million Dollars we have given back in Medical Benefits over the last 2 years, and the additional almost $1 million in contract language changes (like Kindergarten Option 2 CSR) we have stepped up with, on top of no raises and what will surely be benefit surcharges in 2010/2011.

          Well, we are here.  Always have been, always will be.  Ready to do the right thing.  But in our minds the District will need to do a couple of things before they bring us to the table.  First, go into a dictionary and study the definition of the word community.  Then do your historical research on how we have done business here in Redlands prior to the new administration taking over.  Study it; figure out why we did so well solving our challenges as a team.  Bring in our former Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent that you have been paying as consultants.  Make them earn their money.  Have them review our best past collaborative practices with you, and then bring those practices to the table.  Tell your Attorney to take a hike.  Just the act of having an attorney at the table ups the adversarial meter. Besides, it is hard to hear your positions over the ching ching of his little billing hour coin changer.

          Finally, go take a long look in the mirror and decide which one of your two faces you want to bring to the table.  You would be surprised what will happen if you bring the true look of a partner trying to get through tough times together on your face.  And if you need help on what that face really looks like…. just look across the table.