School districts allow for pay cut talks

Bracing for further state budget cuts, South County school districts considered similar resolutions on June 30 to "reserve the right to negotiate a reduction in salaries and/or work year for the 2009-2010 school year for all employees," in the language of the Happy Valley Union Elementary School District (HVUESD) agenda.

The Happy Valley district as well as Cascade Union Elementary School District passed such resolutions. Pay, benefits and school year length for the 2009-20010 school year are all termed "indefinite," according to the passed CUESD resolution.

"They're planning for the worst. I don't think they needed it," said Debbie Rutte, lead negotiator for Anderson Cascade Teachers Association (ACTA). "I think the district is trying to be ready to respond when they know what the state cuts will be."

"Things that come up in contract negotiations must be ‘sunshined' to the public before negotiations begin," CUESD trustee Ann Caanan said. "We're erring on the side of caution to sunshine this before it might happen."

"It allows us to negotiate any concession with any bargaining unit, either classified or unclassified," CUESD Chief Business Officer Donell Evans said.

The race to hear the resolution on June 30 came about as the school districts began a new fiscal year on July 1, although the AUHSD board ruled the resolution not an immediate need, and tabled the discussion.

"It's an option," AUHSD trustee Ivar Amen said. "We don't want to limit ourselves."

Cottonwood Union Elementary School District did not pursue the resolution.

"We didn't see the necessity of doing it at that time," District Superintendent Bob Lowden said, acknowledging that future cuts are still possible.

California's budget deficit has grown to about $24 billion, according to HVUESD Chief Business Officer Debbie Capelli said. With 40 percent of the budget going to education, it's a prime target for continued reductions as the decifit grows, she said.