Letter to the Community: Possible Teacher Strike

The The District has not implemented any changes to our teacher’s contract.

The Association:
• Called an impasse;
• Asked members for a strike authorization vote; and
• Notified the District of their intent to strike starting Monday, May 21, 2012.

DISTRICT’S LATEST OFFER IS RIGHT FOR STUDENTS
• Keeps class sizes from getting larger.
• Gives students a full school year.
• Continues with programs such as elementary PE/music and secondary electives, athletics and activities.

DISTRICT’S LATEST OFFER IS RIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY
• Preserves jobs and avoids teacher layoffs.
• Maintains current amount of preparation time during the school day.
• Offers a contract that can be sustained without cuts to pay raises.

The Board would need to reduce more than 100 teachers or more than 20 days of school, by the end of 2013-14, in order to maintain a 2% ending fund balance and accept the Association’s latest offer.

DISTRICT’S POSITION
The budget for 2012-13 contains $4 million in deficit spending from the ending fund balance. The Association has said that the District is holding on to millions of dollars that belong to the teachers. The Board disagrees with this position.
• Funds belong to the taxpayers.
• Board is charged with fiscal responsibility.
• Current spending plan balances the needs of students, staff and taxpayers.

The Board has offered a fair settlement of $3.2 million (an average of $5,590 per FTE) that is affordable and sustainable for the next two years. The Board cannot meet the Association demand for more pay and less teaching of students.

We do not want to face bankruptcy or massive cuts again. The Board is being transparent in stating that $4 million is the financial limit to additional expenditures. The District’s offer would give staff raises, keep programs for students, and allow for fiscal solvency with a $2 million end fund balance in 2014.

The Association voted to strike under the terms of the existing contract, before the District took any action to declare impasse or implement any new contract terms. The students are our first priority. We must begin making strike preparations for the students.

The Reynolds School Board Members

Theresa Delaney-Davis, Chair
Dane Nickerson, Vice Chair
Robert Lee
Bruce McCain
Tamara Schaffner
Joe Teeny
Valerie Tewksbury