Dear Parents,
While Capistrano Unified continues to provide excellent instructional programs and student services, as well as establish sound financial practices, we have yet to negotiate a new labor contract for our 2,300 classroom teachers.
Since last spring, our district team has been meeting with the Capistrano Unified Education Association (CUEA). Most recently, those talks occurred within a state mediation process. Our next step in an effort to clarify and resolve the issues at the bargaining table, is called Fact Finding. The bargaining teams will present extensive information to an impartial three-person fact finding panel convened by the state’s Public Employment Relations Board.
The neutral fact finding panel chairperson will be able to gather financial data and analyses supporting the latest proposals from both management and labor.
Faced with unprecedented state cuts to public education funding, both sides agree that some level of concessions and reductions must be made to employee total compensation to bridge a projected $24 million CUSD budget shortfall next year. This necessary action follows $33 million in cuts we have already had to impose this year to keep our budget in balance. We look forward to the fact finding process as a chance to clarify the issues, set the record straight, and get past the rhetoric and posturing that can often dominate a labor union dispute.
We appreciate that this can be an anxious time for parents as well as employees. You might read about the negotiations in the newspaper. You may also see teachers doing informational picketing or handing out flyers at your schools. We respect CUEA’s right to voice concerns and express their needs, provided it does not intrude into the learning environment for your children. Posted on our Labor Negotiations & Fact Finding page on the district web site is a Negotiations FAQ that explains what teachers can and cannot do to advance their union position during student class time and the instructional work day. We are confident that our teachers will continue to act professionally during this uncertain time.
I encourage everyone to make sure all the facts are known prior to becoming opinionated about this situation. It is important that people not jump to conclusions based on misinformation, misinterpretation of the facts, and distortions of the district’s proposals. To help you better understand what is at stake in these negotiations the district administration will be releasing in print and through emails a series of bulletins, updates, fact sheets, answers to frequently asked questions, and other informational resources. Please read these materials and also stay current on the latest developments by contacting our Communications Department or accessing the district’s web site (http://capousd-ca.schoolloop.com/cuea). Thank you in advance for your understanding and patience as we work with the teachers union to resolve our differences.
As we approach the holidays, we have much to be thankful for in the Capistrano Unified School District. As your Interim Superintendent, I have been visiting schools to talk with teachers and support employees, parents and students. I have been very impressed with the abilities of our dedicated teachers; caring and capable management and support employees; and bright, energetic students. Our central administration’s goal is to provide all of the support, training, and resources we can to help our students do well in school and achieve to high standards. We sincerely appreciate everything you do at home and at school to support us in this very important work.
Sincerely,
Bobbi Mahler, Ed.D.
Interim Superintendent
