REA Bargaining Session Update: September 26, 2017

The ninth bargaining session between Reynolds Education Association (REA) and Reynolds School District (RSD) was held on September 26, 2017 at the Oregon Education Association office in Gresham from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Proposals were exchanged as follows:

Reynolds School District offered one package proposal which included three articles as follows:

Article 7 – Employee Work Year

Change to B. Distribution of Contract language as follows:

1. Pupil Instruction Days increases from 172 to 174

2. If the District schedules conferences, then one of these days shall be designated as a conference preparation day.

3. 4 staff development days remain the same

4. 1 midyear planning day remains the same

5. 1 fall pre-instructional work day remains the same

6. 1 summer post-instructional day remains the same

7. 4 pupil evaluation and/or course development days remains the same.

Early Release/Late Arrival – The District counter proposed that in months where there are four early release/late arrival days, one early release/late arrival day per month shall be teacher-led in accordance with the developed building plan and for the purposes described above.

(To date, the District has not been agreeable late start time being member directed as the School Board approved these days with the caveat that they would be directed by the District.

Both groups agree this should be collaborative time used effectively.

Article 9 – Teaching Hours

The District continued to propose Fridays be returned to an 8-hour work day in combination with an increase of prep time at the elementary level of 30 minutes per week.
The District accepted REA’s proposal to limit staff meetings to no more than two hours per month with the caveat that the limitation be in effect only for the months of October through June. The District also proposed including language to specify what is considered a staff meeting (defined as meetings held for the purpose of discussing general school/District business as opposed to meetings such as professional development/training, early release/late start time, in-service days, department meetings, and committee meetings). In addition, the District proposed that time allocated for Association business not be included in the two-hour limitation and that exceptions to the limit shall be made in the event of emergency circumstances.
The District continues to propose the elimination of the language regarding block courses at the high school level.

Article 14 – Paid Leaves of Absence

The District continues to agree that unit members need not divulge the nature of their personal business when requesting personal leave.
The District agreed in part to a prior REA proposal that members be allowed to roll over one day of unused personal leave into the next school year. The District, did not, however, agree to REA’s proposal that unit members have either the rollover option or be allowed to be reimbursed $25 for each half (1/2) day of personal leave not used.
The District continues to request language changes in order to document compliance with the new Oregon Sick Time Law.
The District continued to agree to expand the reasons for requesting leave from the Sick Leave Bank to include the serious health condition of a unit member’s child and in this proposal increased the limit for this use to no more than 45 days in any 12-month period for a sick child, up from the prior proposal of a 30-day limit.

REA offered three counter proposals as follows:

Article 5 – Employee Rights

REA’s proposal continues to include agreed upon changes to the fair and objective investigation language in the Just Cause provisions.
REA continued to offer proposed language providing assurance that a personal conversation will be had with a unit member prior to giving the rating of 2 “Needs Improvement” on a summative evaluation rather prior to giving a rating of 1 “Unsatisfactory” which the District had counter offered on its last proposal.
The District & REA continue to be in agreement that TOSA’s should not be involved in the evaluation of unit members.
The District & REA continue to be in agreement that modifications to Programs of Assistance by the evaluator shall not be implemented without first communicating with the unit member and the authorized Association representative.
REA counter proposed that oral or anonymous complaints still may not be used in the disciplinary process.
REA continues to request written updates when there are workplace and environmental safety issues in buildings and has designated that those written responses come from the Deputy CEO or the Superintendent’s designee for Operations. The District has agreed to provide updates to site safety committees for their monthly meetings but has proposed that those updates be provided by the Building Administrators.

Article 18 – Student Discipline

REA continues to propose language regarding referral procedures for students engaging in physical abuse or intimidation to include the completion of a written plan on an established District form. These plans would be filed at both the building and district level and be reviewed by the Student Services committee to monitor the need and use of resources. The data will also be entered into the student database (currently Synergy) and shall be accessible to unit members who are assigned to the student.
REA proposes that disruptions which include physical contact (assault) upon a unit member, result in the removal of a student from the member’s responsibility until an investigation can be completed by the administration. If it is confirmed that the contact did occur and the unit member recommends it, then the student shall not be returned to the responsibility of the unit member. This would also apply to students, who in the judgment of the building administrator, have engaged in singular acts of significant physical aggression or intimidation. A form was included in REA’s initial proposal and the District would like there to be some collaboration regarding the creation of the form rather than accepting the form that has been suggested. The District also feels that the form does not belong in the collective bargaining agreement as then it is not fluid and able to be changed without prior bargaining to do so.
The District and Association shall also jointly engage in efforts to record incidents involving physical contract (assault) and intimidation against unit members. Information shall be shared and reviewed at bi-monthly contract maintenance meetings.
REA proposes adding an additional section to this article titled Restorative Practices. The language proposes the addition of a district-wide Student Success and School Safety and Climate Committee which shall consist of 8 representatives chosen by the Association and 8 representatives chosen by the district. Appointees may include administrators, unit members, students, parents/guardians, and community partners. The purpose of the committee shall be to provide oversight and guidance to the development, implementation, evaluation, and modification regarding the creation of a Restorative Practices culture in the District.

Further, the proposal includes language that the District will support restorative practices by providing schools with additional funds of $150,000 per school per year and for those schools with an enrollment over 1,000 students, an additional allocation of at least $100 per student over 1,000.Allocations may include collaboration with community groups and the hiring of additional REA unit members including but not limited to counselors, school psychologists, and/or social workers.

The proposal also includes language to identify the school sites with additional schools being included at a later date through mutual agreement of both parties and language regarding how a school can become a Restorative Practices School:

A vote of the licensed bargaining unit members at the school site, conducted by REA, where the vote meets or exceeds a 50% approval rating among those voting.

Site administrators and the REA represented team, with input and involvement from parents and/or community groups from local neighborhoods working together to develop a site based plan.

The submission of the site-based plan by March 1st of each year for approval from the join REA-RSD Student Success and School Safety and Climate Committee.

Pilot schools shall use a research based restorative practice model chosen by the site (approved by 50% of the unit members on staff) and approved by the join REA-RSD Student Success and School Safety and Climate Committee.

Article 26 – Student Services and Special Education

REA requests the District convene a meeting of the Student Services Committee when it intends to move or place a self-contained special education classroom in a building. The District counter proposed that this committee may be called upon to review the building placements of self-contained programs.
REA redacted its proposal that the language regarding the 2.2% stipend paid be expanded beyond current contract language of “in recognition of time spent in required meetings and preparing paperwork” to remove “in required meetings” and to add “contacting parents, scoring assessments, writing reports, and completing quarterly IEP goal documents.” And, that the list of those eligible to receive the stipend be expanded to include, “any other Student Services Members who are responsible for developing IEP’s or Eligibilities.” Instead REA has now proposed language indicating that receiving the 2.2% stipend does not prevent student services members from utilizing the Special Consideration compensation process spelled out in current contract language, Appendix C.
REA continues to propose new language indicating that either the District or the Association may call for a meeting of the Student Services Committee with at least 24 hours’ written notice.

No Tentative Agreements were reached at this session.

Next Bargaining Session:

October 9, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the library at Woodland Elementary School

Future Bargaining Calendar:
October 26, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Woodland Elementary School Library.