January 12th School Board Meeting Highlights

Trustees’ Meeting Highlights 1-12-15

Video link

Public Comment:

·      2 parents spoke to their interest in extending the Kindergarten day and asked that the “item” be included on the Feb. School Board Meeting agenda

Recognitions of the Month

·      Michelle Broback, Del Rey Sec retary

·      Patsy Templeton, Teacher on Special Assignment

BP 5111 Admissions and Administrative Regulation – District Residency

Trustee Butler recognized that following discussion by the Board, the public may comment.

Trustee Rossiter identified that at Miramonte she must show residency documentation each year. With a child at Del Rey, she was only required to show residency documentation once. She suggested that OUSD should require residency documentation each year. She also suggested that language within the policy needs a “clean-up.”

Trustee Kaune: distributed a document to the Board and public that organized his notes and other district policies.

His summary suggests:

·      An explanatory introduction and more clear subheadings

·      Definition of the methods of reasonable inquiry

·      Definition or elimination of the term “alternative living arrangements”

·      Expand the process for determining residency

·      Advance Board notice of any revocation of enrollment

·      Right to Appeal

·      References to concrete examples

Trustee Kaune said, “I believe that we should be explicit that we have not adopted the so-called Allen Bill approach under Ed Code 4820b to admit all children of employees in the district and have articulated standards for those living outside of the District.”

Trustee Brown suggested appeal process and using two sources of documentation (CSBA recommendation), and include that OUSD does not discriminate on race, religion, orientation et al.

Trustee Butler: familiar with Miramonte residency system; concern about the need for staffing to annually check residency documents, also mentioned two sources of documentation,  suggested that “reasonably believes” and “reasonable efforts”  needs to be defined in the clause asking staff to report any possible violations of residency.

Trustee Butler also requested that the Trustees be informed and “kept in the loop” regarding matters of this nature.

Trustee Moran: wants to emulate Miramonte’s annual policy.

Mrs. Storch: thanked the board for discussing the residency matter. She expressed dismay that the Trustees did not know that action was being taking against Vivien. She encouraged stronger communication and clear policy that fairly applies to all families and not a case-by-case focus.  AB207 specifies how many residency documents may be requested (AUHSD is noncompliant with AB207).

Trustee Moran recommended a subcommittee of Trustee Kaune and Trustee Rossitor to review policy and bring for discussion to the Feb. Board Meeting.

Biannual Audit Report: twice a year using compliance guide issued by State Controller.

Tentative Bargaining Agreement for 2013-2014 school year

·      Ongoing 3% increase applied to salary schedule retroactive to October 7, 2013

·      Ongoing increase to medical benefit cap of $485.00 per month full time equivalency effective December 1, 2014

·      One time: from July 1, 2014 – November 30, 2014 only; increase of up to $285.00 medical cap dependent upon the amount paid out of pocket by the teacher

·      One time: off salary scale stipend of $3475.00

·      Beginning with the 2015-16 school year, through the 2016-17 school year, prep time will be restored by 80 minutes per month to elementary teachers 1^st gades through 3^rd grade.

Elementary enrichment specialists who tech grades 1^st through 5^th shall receive release time for specific activities. This release time must be scheduled in advance and receive prior approval from the principal. Release time will be granted upon successfully securing substitute teachers to cover classes.

P.E.  - three full days or six half days of sub release time per site between February and May for 5^th grade required state physical fitness testing

Music:  up to 2.5 days sub release time for concert practices, concert performances, and play assemblies

Art: ½ day of sub release time in spring to prepare for the Orinda Arts Ambassador Program

Trustee Moran complimented teachers. Unanimously approved.

Discussion of tentative 2015-16 calendar

·      First SD: Monday, August 24

·      First Student Day: Wednesday, August 26

·      Last Day of Class: Friday, June 10

OEA Committees

Committees

Grievance Co-Chairs, Charles Shannon & Colleen Sullivan, Glorietta Our Grievance Committee consists of trained representatives who assist our site reps and members at their school sites to solve perceived contract violations. The committee also determines whether or not a grievance should be taken to arbitration. Bargaining/Negotiations Co-Chairs, Adam Miller & Katherine Palmer-Collins The Bargaining Team handles our negotiations with the Orinda Union School District. Elections

Chairperson, Terry Schrittweiser

The Elections Committee manages the details whenever OEA has an internal election or vote. Charged with ensuring that the elections are conducted in a fair and impartial manner.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING - LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

Our union contract is a critical document that's the culmination of the collective bargaining process. 

During the bargaining process, a team of OEA teachers sit down as equals with administrators/directors and both sides negotiate the terms for working in the district.  This team bargains a contract that defines the issues for all members of the bargaining unit:  teachers, counselors, and all certificated staff.

Not everything is negotiable. Critical job issues that are within the legal scope of bargaining include compensation, hours of work, safety matters, class size, evaluation and disciplinary procedures, health care, access to personnel files, preparation time, seniority, transfer rights, a grievance procedure with binding arbitration to settle major disputes, discrimination, job assignments, and early retirement.

Issues not within the scope of bargaining include a district’s staffing needs, the district budget process, matters affecting employees outside the bargaining unit, the timing of layoffs, an advisory committee formed by the employer, and access to information unrelated to union representation.

Both OEA and the district have embraced what is known as “interest-based” bargaining — a model that can be effective if all parties have a sincere desire to make it work.  In interest-based bargaining, the parties brainstorm to find a “win-win” solution that doesn’t start with specific bargaining proposals. The focus is on developing mutually beneficial agreements based on the interests of the parties — the needs, desires and concerns important to each side. The goal is to keep the conversation flowing and avoid “stopping points.”

Please make sure your voice is heard by taking a few minutes of your time to complete OEA's online bargaining survey that will help determine our interests before meeting with the district.  This survey must be completed by 3:00 on Friday, January 10th. Here's the link again: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CTGD6ZV

Thank you,

Charles Shannon

OEA President