REA Bargaining Session Update: August 31, 2017
The seventh bargaining session between Reynolds Education Association (REA) and Reynolds School District (RSD) was held on August 31, 2017 at the Oregon Education Association Office from 2:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Proposals were presented as follows:
Reynolds School District offered counter proposals on:
- Article 7 – Employee Work Year
REA is requesting that when spring conferences are scheduled they be preceded by a conference prep day. The District is struggling to determine where that day would come from in the calendar.
REA is requesting that late arrival days be member directed. The District has not been agreeable to this proposal as the School Board approved these days with the caveat that they would be directed by the District. There was continued discussion about how the time is being used at various buildings and how it could be used. Both groups want this to be collaborative time used effectively.
- Article 27 – Class Workload
The District is not agreeable to adding additional language related to class size ratios and doesn’t feel it can move in the direction that REA is requesting due to the added expense.
The District agrees that parent and student input are valuable but is not in agreement that the contract should include parties outside the bargaining unit and the District.
REA offered counter proposals on:
- Article 5 – Employee Rights
REA is looking to strengthen the Just Cause language.
REA is proposing assurance that conversations need to happen prior to a unit member being given the rating of 1 – Unsatisfactory on a summative evaluation.
There was continued discussion regarding how to use complaints in the disciplinary process. Should oral complaints be allowed to be reduced to writing by an administrator and used in the disciplinary process or not? REA would like to retain current contract language regarding oral, unsigned, and anonymous complaints. The District is seeking to allow the use of oral complaints reduced to writing by an administrator.
The District & REA are in agreement that TOSA’s should not be involved in the evaluation of unit members.
REA is requesting written updates when there are workplace and environmental safety issues in buildings.
There was continued discussion regarding Teaching materials and curriculum and the accountability for implementing programs and/or curriculum.
- Article 9 – Teaching Hours
The District is proposing that Fridays be returned to an 8-hour work day.
The District is proposing that the five minutes of passing time following the duty-free lunch be eliminated at the elementary level.
REA is proposing that preparation time at the elementary level be increased to 450 minutes per week in sections of no less than 40 minutes.
REA is proposing that there be no more than two hours per month of staff meetings.
No Tentative Agreements were reached at this session.
Discussion was also had regarding Article 14 – Paid Leaves of Absence but no counter proposals were exchanged for this article during this session.
The District is requesting some language changes in order to document compliance with the new Oregon Sick Time Law.
REA is requesting that unit members not be asked to provided reasons when requesting personal leave.
REA is requesting an incentive of $50 per half day not used or the possibility of being allowed to carry over a day.
REA is proposing to expand the reasons for requesting leave from the Sick Leave Bank to include the use of caring for an ill family member in addition to unit member’s own serious illness.
Next Bargaining Session:
September 11, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Woodland Elementary School Library.
Future Bargaining Calendar:
September 26, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Oregon Education Association (OEA) office in Gresham.
October 9, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Woodland Elementary School Library.
October 26, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Woodland Elementary School Library.
