Chico Unified School District

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1163 East Seventh Street, Chico, CA 95928-5999 | (530) 891-3000

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District Reports

2011-2012 2010-2011

2011-2012

Presented by Bob Feaster, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources

April 18, 2012

CUTA: The teams met on April 5. We discussed the following issues:

The District provided requested information regarding current staffing levels for School Nurses and Speech and Language Specialists
Proposed modifications from CUTA regarding K-6 combination classes
Conceptual (draft) language from CUTA regarding "oversized K-6 classes"
Proposed modifications regarding teacher "relief" periods
Proposed modifications from CUTA regarding medical benefits
Proposed additional stipends for an advisor position

The teams worked to find additional negotiation dates, but given STAR testing, both teachers and administrators were limited in available meeting dates. The teams are next scheduled to meet on May 7. Recently, we have shared options to move the process foward by having meetings that include some, but not all members, of the bargaining teams. Additionally, we are considering additional meetings in the late afternoon or early evening.

CSEA, Chapter 110: The teams have not met since the last report on March 28. The teams are next scheduled to meet this Friday, April 20. The teams have had communications about having in attendance on April 20, District staff with expertise in specific areas that we plan to discuss. At the last session, the District provided CSEA with a counter-proposal as well as contract language requested by CSEA.

CUMA: The District provided CUMA with DRAFT language of a proposed agreement that would provide for the ongoing distribution of CUMA's allocation of Medi-Cal Administrative Activities (MAA) funding in the same manner as that proposed for both CUTA and CSEA.

March 28, 2012

CUTA: Since the last update, the CUTA and District negotiating teams met on February 21, February 28 and March 12. The teams reached agreement on language dealing with:

Medi-Cal Administrative Activities (MAA)
The ongoing implementation and use of the grade book component of the Aeries student information system for secondary teachers
The ongoing implementation of extended day kindergarten

The teams are discussing other issues such as:

Job descriptions for academic coaches (e.g., Math, ELD and Language Arts)
Class sizes and caseloads for special education providers
Class size for regular education classes with special education students mainstreamed

The teams are next scheduled to meet on April 5.

CSEA, Chapter 110: Since the last update, the CSEA 110 and District negotiating teams met on February 22 and March 16. The teams reviewed and responded to a comprehensive package proposal. Primary issues of discussion at this point include:

Process for offering overtime
The layoff process and return rights given recent case law
The accrual of vacation time for long term employees
New Year's Eve day as a paid holiday
Transportation Special Education Aides becoming a part of the "transportation" article
One time reimbursement to CSEA members for increased costs associated with medical care

The teams are next scheduled to meet on April 20.

CUMA: There is nothing new to report.

February 15, 2012

CUTA: CUTA and the District sunshined their initial proposals on February 1, 2012. The teams for the District and CUTA met February 8, 2012, to begin the bargaining process for the 2012/13 school year. The teams are scheduled to meet on February 21 and 28.

The meeting on February 8 was spent primarily on prioritizing and organizaing issues. The teams began the process of dealing with obsolete and/or outdated language in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). We are in the process of identifying the various Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and other one (1) year agreements so that we can review them and determine if they should be placed into the CBA.

This initial session for 2012/13 negotiations was seen by the District team as amicable and productive.

CSEA, Chapter 110: The District and CSEA, Chapter 110 negotiations teams last met on January 10. The District responded to the Chapter's last proposal. Later in the day the Chapter responded to the District's counter proposal. The Chapter's counter proposal included, but was not limited to, these previous issues: offers of overtime assignment based upon seniority, meetings with the Director of Classified Personnel regarding lyaoff notices, preference language for employees who are laid off employees to be able to work in non-permanent positions, personal necessity language clarification, vacation accrual, additional holidays, organizational security language, employees covered under the transportation article. Several new issues inclouded: one-time lump sum reimbursement for all members on a pro rata basis for changes in health care coverage and changes in the procedures for processing grievances. The teams were scheduled to meet on January 31, but scheduling conflicts resulted and this meeting was cancelled. The teams are next scheduled to meet on February 22. In addition to discussion about the Chapter's most recent proposal and the District's response, the teams will deal with issues that may help to resolve a recent complaint filed by the Chapter dealing with stipends for some Chapter members.

January 18, 2012

CUTA: The current agreement between the CUTA and the District states, in part, that: "Not later than February 1, the CUTA and the District shall exchange their initial proposals for the next school year(s). The proposals shall be presented to the Governing Board at the next meeting of the Board."

The District is in the process of gathering input to complete our initial proposal. We will have that ready to share with CUTA in the next two weeks.

CSEA, Chapter 110: The District and CSEA, Chapter 110 negotiations teams met on January 10. The District provided a response to the Chapter's most recent proposal. Later in the day, the Chapter provided a comprehensive proposal that merged previous proposals and added some new issues. We continue to discuss issues such as the assignment of overtime, personal necessity days, vacation time and holidays. The new proposal from CSEA, Chapter 110 included one-time compensation language for all members as well as changes to the grievance process.

The teams scheduled their next meeting for January 31, but the District has requested to reschedule that meeting due to a conflict.

CUMA: There is nothing new to report.

December 7, 2011

CUTA: Last spring the parties successfully completed negotiations dealing with a variety of issues that were mutually opened including extended day kindergarten. We also successfully completed negotiations this fall on the impact and effect issues of the modifications to the medical plan imposed by the Butte County JPA.

There have been no negotiations between the District and CUTA since the last Board meeting. The current agreement between the parties states, in part, that: "Not later than February 1, the CUTA and the District shall exchange their initial proposals for the next school year(s). The proposals shall be presented to the Governing Board at the next meeting of the Board."

CSEA, Chapter 110: The Distrit and CSEA, Chapter 110 negotiations teams met on November 30. The Chapter provided a new proposal. Following some clarifying questions and discussion between the groups, the Chapter provided a revised proposal later in the day. The District will respond to the proposal at our next meeting scheduled for December 13. Current topics of discussion include the assignment of overtime, impacts and effects of layoff, personal necessity leave, leave of absence for child birth, vacation time for members with 25 years of service, scheduling vacation time, additional holidays, transfers and organizational security.

CUMA: There is nothing new to report.

November 16, 2011

CUTA: Later on tonight's agenda is the tenative agreement (TA) that was reached between the District and CUTA bargaining teams when we last met on October 18. If the TA is approved there will be no open issues between the parties. Negotiations between CUTA and the District will commence in February 2012.

CSEA, Chapter 110: The district and CSEA, Chapter 110 negotiations teams met on October 31 and again on November 8. Tentative Agreements (TAs) were signed on the following topics:

Article 2 (Wages): Specifies when an employee can opt out of the equalized payment option.
Article 5 (Leaves): Extends the time period when an employee may take bereavement leave.
Article 10 (Evaluations): Clarified who will prepare formal evaluations and when the prime evaluator can use information from other individuals.
Article 14 (Discipline): Provides for CSEA leadership to receive more timely notification of possible employee discipline and for the District to work with CSEA leadership to set dates for disciplinary conferences, investigatory meetings and/or hearings.
Article 19 (Negotiations/Duration): Extending the Collective Bargaining Agreement through November 15, 2014.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed regarding the distribution of MAA funds for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years.

The Teams are schedule to meet again on November 30.

CUMA: There is nothing new to report.

October 19, 2011

CUTA: The single item before the teams has been the impact and effects of the changes to the Red Plan resulting from the changes imposed by the Butte County JPA. The two bargaining teams met on October 14 to look at possible solutions prior to mediation which was scheduled for October 18. On October 14 the teams exchanged proposals and agreed to continue the process in mediation. The teams met Tuesday, October 18 in mediation and after a long day reached a tentative agreement (TA). That TA will go through the process with CUTA for ratification by the membership and will likely come to this Board for consideration on November 16.

CSEA, Chapter 110: The District and CSEA, Chapter 110 negotiations teams met for a full day on October 11. The Chapter put together a package of proposed changes on which the teams have been collaboratively working. This included topics such as: layoffs, increase in hours for 1:1 instructional assistants, assigning issues for transportation special education aides, disciplinary procedures, evaluation procedures and personal necessity leave. A great deal of progress was made in developing language that both parties could tentatively agree. Conceptual agreement was reached on some issues and we are very close on others. There are some issues that are not yet resolved but the teams continue to work well together and most importantly, continue to listen so that an understanding of the other's point of view can be achieved. The teams will next meet on October 31.

CUMA: There is nothing new to report.

September 21, 2011

CUTA: The single item before the teams at the last meeting was the impact and effects of the changes to the Red Plan resulting from the changes imposed by the Butte County JPA. Since then the issue has been sent to the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB). A mediator from the State Mediation and Conciliation Service has been assigned to the case. The teams are scheduled to meet with the mediator on October 18. The District team is working to balance the interests and needs of CUTA with the precarious and uncertain financial picture. As the picture comes more into focus we are better able to know what district resources might be available to help resolve this matter.

CSEA, Chapter 110: The District and CSEA, Chapter 110 negotiations teams have not met since the last update to the Board. There was a session scheduled on August 17 that was cancelled due to a family emergency. The teams have dates in front of them now that they are considering for meetings. Both teams hope to schedule several dates so that we can move the process forward. Given that the entire collective bargaining agreement is "open" we have many items to disucss. We have reached agreement on a significant number of items and will bring all of the proposed changes forward at one time if possible.

CUMA: There is nothing new to report.

August 17, 2011

CUTA: The District and CUTA negotiations teams have not met since the last update at the Board meeting on July 20. The teams are scheduled to meet on Wednesday, August 24. We will continue negotiations regarding the impact and effects of the JPA's changes to the Red Plan for medical insurance.

CSEA, Chapter 110: The District and CSEA, Chapter 110 negotiations teams have not met since the last update to the Board. The teams were scheduled to meet today but the session was cancelled due to a family emergency for one of the members necessary for the Chapter. We are working on scheduling new dates to meet. We will continue to discuss a wide variety of topics given the entire collective bargaining agreement is open.

CUMA: There is nothing new to report.

July 20, 2011

CUTA: The District and CUTA negotiations teams met on June 21 to continue bargaining the impact and effects of the changes to the Red Plan (medical insurance) implemented by the Butte County JPA. The District team reiterated our point of view, that our budget continues to be precarious and that it would be unwise of the District to commit to a financial solution to this issue until there is more certainty and we are on good fiscal footing. We now have a State budget that once again is likely to crumble under the weight of reality and will more than likely result in mid year cuts to K-12 education. The current budget does offer school districts "flat funding". This provides certainty only until mid year and without any increases, maintains the deficit spending for CUSD. This deficit spending is anticipated to use up any and all fund balance in the next 2-3 years. CUTA reiterated the counterproposal they offered at the June 7 meeting for mitigating the impact and effect of the JPA's changes to the Red Plan and for calculating the District's contribution to CUTA member medical premiums for 2012/13. The District also believes that it is complying with the collective bargaining agreement by providing the Red Plan, with the premiums fully paid by the District for the term of the agreement.

The teams were scheduled to meet the afternoon of June 23 to continue the process. The District suggested that we wanted to look at options to modify the contract that might create savings to help mitigate this issue and bring that back on the 23. The teams agreed that they would meet if the option being explored by the District was viable. The District informed the CUTA team later that day that the specific option we were looking at was not viable. Therefore, based on the understanding at the end of the meeting on the 21 we did not meet on the 23.

In a letter dated June 23 (received June 26), the CUTA bargaining team suggested that the teams were not able to make progress on this matter and that the District jointly file with CUTA for impasse. In a letter to the CUTA bargaining chair on July 12, the District stated that it remains interested in a successful resolution to this matter through negotiations between the two teams and offered to continue meeting to look at possible changes to the collective bargaining agreement that could free up fiscal resources and provide options that might resolve some or all of the impacts and effects of the JPA's changes to the Red Plan. To date we have not received a response from CUTA.

CSEA Chapter 110: The teams continue to work on a large number of issues as the entire collective bargaining agreement is open for negotiations. The teams met today for the first time since May 6. Today's session was productive with the Chapter providing a proposal on the order of offers when a position increases in hours and the District providing a proposal on how to deal with the increase in hours for a 1:1 aide. There was also considerable and productive discussion on the District's proposal on May 6 dealing with Personal Necessity Leave. The District also brought forward some positions that it would like to have reduced and some to be eliminated. These were a small number of positions that are no longer needed and/or have been vacant or the District believes that we don't need all of the hours assigned. The Chapter will respond to the District on these in the next couple of weeks. The teams also took this opportunity to discuss staffing changes that have occurred, deal with rumors and address other issues that have come from employees to the leadership of the Chapter. Finally, the Chapter noted that in the Spring of 2011 that they voted to disband the Quality Circle in Nutrition Services. The Chapter is now withdrawing that vote and will continue with the implementation of the Quality Circle. The Chapter will meet in the future to discuss their support or opposition to the Quality Circle. The Quality Circle has been a team of employees within the Nutritional Services department who meet with management to review the operations of the department.

CUMA: There is nothing new to report.

2010-2011

Presented by: Bob Feaster, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources


	June 15, 2011 CUTA: The District and CUTA negotiations teams met on June 7 to continue bargaining the impact and effects of the changes to the Red Plan (for medical) implemented by the Butte County JPA. The District's point of view is that our budget continues to be precarious and that it would be unwise of the District to commit to an agreement on this issue until there is more certainty and we are on good fiscal footing. This is exaserbated by the lack of a State budget. CUTA offered proposals for mitigating the impact and effect of the JPA's changes to the Red Plan and for calculating the District's contribution to CUTA member medical premiums for 2012-13. The teams are scheduled to meet on June 21 and 23. CSEA Chapter 110: There have been no negotiations sessions with the teams since we last met on May 6. As noted at the last Board meeting, the session planned for June 9 had to be cancelled due to some key members not being available. We are in the process now of scheduling dates for the summer. CUMA: There is nothing new to report. May 18, 2011 CUTA: After the Board meeting on April 20, the District requested that CUTA and the District mutually agree to open negotiations on the topic of stipends for coaches. A few days after that request was made, CUTA responded in writing that they respectfully declined our "invitation". The District and CUTA negotiating teams met on May 10 to negotiate the impact and effects of the changes to the medical plan (Red Plan) offered by the JPA. The teams exchanged ideas, points of view and shared requests for data. The teams are scheduled to meet again on June 7. CSEA Chapter 110: The teams met on May 6. Most of the discussion at this session focused on language dealing with the order in which open positions are offered to employees. There was conceptual agreement. The Chapter will provide draft language at our next session. There was some discussion about transfer language for 1:1 aides. The District will provide draft language on this at our next session. The District provided draft language of proposed changes dealing with personal necessity days. The Chapter will review this and respond at our next session. The next session was scheduled for June 9; however, after the meeting, we learned that at least one key member would not be available on that date so we will reschedule. CUMA: There is nothing new to report. April 20, 2011 CUTA: The teams last met on March 7, 2011. That session resulted in the tentative agreement you have later on tonight's agenda. On February 22, 2011, CUTA presented the District with a "demand to bargain" the impact and effects of any changes to the medical plan (Red Plan) that is paid for by District. Recently the board that sets the rates and terms of the plan has finalized the changes for next year. CUTA and the District are now looking at dates to meet to bargain this issue. CSEA Chapter 110: The teams met on April 8. The Chapter provided a proposal that withdrew several of the cost items associated with their original proposal. Most of the session was taken up reviewing and crafting language that both parties could agree to on the evaluation process. The teams also discussed the report from a subcommittee's recommendation to reduce the hours of one position. Both parties were in agreement with the subcommittee's recommendation. The next scheduled meeting is Friday, May 6. CUMA: There is nothing new to report. March 23, 2011 CUTA: Since the last update, the District and CUTA negotiations teams met for a full day on Thursday, February 17, Tuesday, February 22 and Monday, March 7. These sessions resulted in the following: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the parties that fully resolves the grievance dealing with the use of the Aeries grade book. Tentative Agreement (TA) between the parties that provides Kindergarten teachers with the option to work for an additional 60 minutes per day with students in their class. This TA will go to the CUTA membership for ratification and then will come to this Board for approval at a meeting next month. No further dates have been scheduled. CSEA Chapter 110: The teams met on Monday, March 21 for half of the day. The District provided a response to the Chapters counter proposal of February 4. After discussion and clarification between the teams, the Chapter provided another counter proposal near the end of the day's session and, based on feedback from the District, said that they would come back with another proposal at our next meeting. Areas of discussion included but were not limited to: bereavement leaves, evaluation process, probationary period, use of personal necessity leave time and the article dealing with the impact and effects of layoffs. There are many other items open for discussion as we are working on a successor contract with the entire contract open. The teams have future meetings scheduled for: April 8 and May 6. CUMA: There is nothing new to report.


	February 16, 2011 CUTA: Since the last update, the District and CUTA negotiations teams met for a full day on Thursday, January 27 and Tuesday, February 8. We are scheduled to meet again tomorrow and on February 22. The recent sessions have focused on the following issues: Extended day Kindergarten options and impacts on teachers. The teams have exchanged proposals on this topic. No agreement has been reached yet. Discussion of the processes used by administrators to resolve staff conflict prior to involuntary transfers for staff friction. Discussion of the issues involved in the current grievance that is scheduled for arbitration regarding the use of the grade book program in the District's student information system, Aeries. A resolution to this issue has been proposed and accepted pending the approval of the CUTA Executive Board. CSEA Chapter 110: Since the last update the two teams met on February 4. Late in the morning on that day, the Chapter provided the District with a counter proposal that addressed many of the issues identified by the teams. This proposal addressed a large number of items given that the entire collective bargaining agreement is open. The remainder of the session was spent with the teams discussing and clarifying the details of that proposal in an effort to make sure that we fully understood this proposal. The teams set future meetings on: March 8, April 8, and May 6. CUMA: Nothing new to report.


	January 19, 2011 CUTA: The District and CUTA negotiations teams met for a full day on Tuesday, January 18 and are scheduled to meet again on Thursday, January 27. Yesterday's session focused on the following issues: Disbursement of MAA funds: An MOU was signed by both parties. Extended day Kindergarten options and impacts on teachers. Discussion of the processes used by administrators to resolve staff conflict prior to involuntary transfers for staff friction. Discussion of the current issues involved in the current grievance that is scheduled for arbitration. Discussion of sections of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that may be obsolete and could be considered for deletion. Other than the MOU regarding MAA there were no final agreements reached. Both teams listened and asked questions to better understand the interests of each other. For the next meeting the District team will provide some information on extended day kindergarten, will provide a list of sections of the CBA that it sees as possibly obsolete and will bring items that it would like to have discussed. CSEA Chapter 110: The Chapter and District negotiations teams were scheduled to meet today. However, due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict with a member of the Chapter's team, that session was cancelled. We are next scheduled to meet on February 4 to resume our discussion of the issues raised by both groups given that the entire CBA is open. CUMA: Nothing new to report.

December 15, 2010

CUTA: While there have been no formal negotiation sessions between the District and CUTA since the approval of the October agreement there have been positive discussions on a variety of important topics. We have had productive discussions on developing an agreement to continue our relationship with billing and distributing funds for Medi-Cal Administrative Activities (MAA). We have also had discussions regarding the evaluation process and how it can best be used to improve student achievement. We have also been working together to enhance the PLC process for teachers and the use of the new student information system.

This is an important time in CUSD. Now is the time for all of us to demonstrate our trust in each other and our commitment to working together to enhance the relationship between the District and CUTA so that we can provide the best possible services to our students. The meetings and conversations over the past couple of months have been positive, productive and cooperative.

CSEA Chapter 110: The Chapter and District negotiations teams met on December 1 and December 13.

The December 1 meeting focused on the completion of the Tentative Agreement (TA) that is on the Board's agenda for discussion later in tonight's agenda. The Chapter also reviewed and discussed the list of items that they would like to have considered given that the entire contract is open for discussion. These include but are not limited to: Rules for assigning split shifts; Bereavement and personal necessity leave; Impacts and effects of layoffs; Holidays.

At the December 13 meeting the District team provided a list of items that it woud like to have discussed including but not limited to: Order of offers; Prime evaluator for employees with multiple positions; Probationary term; Eligibility in retiree health care benefits.

There was discussion about each of these to help each side understand the other's interest. The parties are next scheduled to meet on January 19 and February 4.

CUMA: The work continues to finalize the implementation of the reductions agreed to by both parties.


	November 17, 2010 CUTA: There have been no new negotiation sessions between the parties since the last update. We have been working together on the implementation of the furlough days and have been discussing the possibility of opening articles of the Collective Bargaining Agreement that we may have a mutual interest in discussing. CSEA Chapter 110: The Chapter and District negotiations teams met on October 26 and November 5. Primary topics of discussion included; Implementation of furlough days The elimination and reduction of various positions Achieving parity between the CUTA agreement and that with CSEA, Chapter 110 The teams did some mutual work between the meetings to gather more information from employees about the impact and effect of the possible eliminations and reductions and shared what we had learned at the November 5 meeting. At the November 5 meeting there was a positive discussion about ways to modify the June 18 agreement with CSEA to create parity with the recently approved agreement with CUTA. The teams are next scheduled to meet on November 19, December 2 and December 14. We hope to be able to finalize a tentative agreement soon on the parity issue. We will continue our work on a successor agreement given that the entire Collective Bargaining Agreement is open. CUMA: The Chico Unified Management Association worked with the District to develop and implement furlough days that will create parity with those implemented for CUTA.

October 20, 2010

CUTA: The Tentative Agreement between CUTA and the District is an item later in tonight's agenda. When that item is discussed later tonight we will present specific information on the tentative agreement. This agreement will allow us to move forward and to focus on the excellent job that employees of the District do in educating the students of Chico.

CSEA Chapter 110: The Chapter and District negotiations teams have agreed on two (2) upcoming dates to meet; October 26 and November 5. It is anticipated that discussions will include: 1) Working toward a successor agreement given that the entire contract is open. The Chapter provided a prioritized list of items from the initial proposals for discussion; and 2) Reaching agreement on the impact of the tentative agreement with CUTA on the CSEA agreement.

CUMA: The Chico Unified Management Association is currently working internally to develop the means by which CUMA members will take an equitable amount of furlough days to match those tentatively agreed to with CUTA. It is expected that CUMA will come forward with the specific recommendations on the implementation of these furlough days.


	September 15, 2010 CUTA: The District and CUTA negotiating teams participated in teh Fact Finding meeting that was held on Monday, September 13, 2010. Each side presented the facts in the matter to a three person panel composed of one member chosen by CUTA, one member chosen by the Distrct and one member, the Chair, who was agreed to by both parties. Late in the afternoon the Chair informed the parties that she was ending the session as she did not see continuing to meet as useful. We anticipate that a final Fact Finding report will be issued in mid-October. CSEA Chapter 110: Since the last regular meeting of this Board, the District and CSEA Chapter 110 teams have met once on August 23. In that meeting we dealt with a varity of current issues such as staffing, the impact of program moves and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP discussion resulted in drafting the tentative agreement that is before you later on your agenda. This will allow us to terminate our contract with our existing EAP provider and have all such services offered through the current medical plan for the BSSP-JPA. This will save the District approximately $19,000 total, $17,000 with CSEA, Chapter 110. The meeting also included clarifying each side's priorities as we discuss negotiations given that the entire collective bargaining agreement is open this year. CUMA: There have been no new developments between the District and the Chico Unified Management Association (CUMA). CUMA is currently in the process of having their sub groups look at options to achieve the agreed upon compensation reductions to match whatever is finalized with CUTA.


	August 18, 2010 CUTA: The District and CUTA negotiating teams met on June 23 and 25 with the assigned mediator. At the end of the last session no new meetings were scheduled. On August 5, 2010, the mediator sent notice to the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) stating, "…that fact finding is appropriate to the resolution of the impasse." On August 11, 2010, Les Chisholm, Division Chief of PERB notified both parties in writing to select its fact finding panel member by August 18. A fact finding panel is composed of three people: one appointed by CTA, one by the District and a neutral is appointed to hear the issues involved. Given the prescribed timelines, we anticipate that the panel will complete their work and present a report in late September. The goal remains that of finding a negotiated settlement. This is still possible leading up to and through the fact finding process. CSEA Chapter 110: On June 29, CSEA Chapter 110 ratified and on June 30 the CUSD Board of Education approved a tentative agreement between the parties. Both parties recognized that this agreement does not conclude bargaining for the current year and that further reductions may likely be necessary. This agreement provided for the following: A reduction in the salary schedule for new employees of 10% effective July 1, 2010 JPA Red Plan offered as the health plan for unit members Elimination of team cleaning Suspension of the Golden Handshake for 4 years Furlough days The teams are scheduled to meet on August 23 and September 2. CUMA: There have been no new developments between the District and the Chico Unified Management Association (CUMA). CUMA is currently in the process of having their sub groups look at options to achieve the agreed upon compensation reductions.


	June 16, 2010 CUTA: The District and CUTA bargaining teams met on May 20 with the mediator assigned by the State Medication/Conciliation Service. Given that this was a mediation session the discussions are confidential. The parties agreed to meet again on June 23 and June 25 with the mediator. CSEA Chapter 110: The bargaining teams met on June 11. The parties have made significant progress on a conceptual proposal that could result in meeting a portion of the savings needed from Chapter 110 toward dealing with our current budget crisis. This was a positive session with real progress being made. The teams next meet this Friday, June 18, hopefully to complete the final details of this proposal. If we can complete that process, we will have been successful in meeting the Board's request at the March 3 meeting that the teams demonstrate significant progress. There was a very good spirit of compromise and cooperation in this session and we hope and believe that this continues in future meetings. CUMA: The District provided CUMA leadership with a written response to the list of questions that CUMA members posed. On June 3 CUMA membership and Senior Cabinet met to clarify any remaining questions and concerns. There appears to be a common understanding of the issues and the District's responses to the questions. CUMA will continue their internal discussion as to how their groups will work toward achieving the needed budget savings.


	May 19, 2010 CUTA: The District is again tonight publicly presenting its initial proposal to CUTA for the 2009/10 school year. The bargaining teams will meet tomorrow (May 20) at 10:00am with the mediator, Sandra Poole, assigned to us by the State Mediation/Conciliation Service through the impasse process. CSEA Chapter 110: The bargaining teams met on May 5 in an abbreviated session. Much of that session was taken up in resolving issues related to recent layoffs and where a group of employees should be placed on eligibility lists. A Memorandum of Understanding was drafted and was subsequently approved by the Chapter. There was also some discussion about the Golden Handshake process. The teams met again today (9:00am-3:30pm). This included a review and update of fiscal issues, a sharing of interests and the parties sharing their priorities going forward. Conceptual proposals were exchanged. Some conceptual agreement was reached on many issues. This was a positive meeting. Future meetings are scheduled for June 11, June 18, July 12 and July 15. CUMA: The District provided CUMA leadership with a written response to the list of questions that CUMA members posed. We are working to find a time when CUMA membership and Senior Cabinet can meet to provide CUMA members an opportunity to ask questions directly.


	April 21, 2010 CUTA: Representatives from CUTA/CTA and the District met on March 22 with the mediator assigned to our case given that we have been declared by PERB as being at impasse regarding negotiations for the 2009-10 school year. That meeting did not result in a solution. At this point the mediator has indicated that she is not sending the parties to Fact Finding. CUTA has proposed that the next mediation meeting be held on May 20. The District is seeking possible earlier dates in conjunction with the mediator. CSEA Chapter 110: The Chapter's initial proposal for 2010/11 was sunshined at the Board meeting on March 24. The District and Chapter teams have been exchanging possible meeting dates. We have tentatively agreed on May 5 and 19. CUMA: The District and the leadership of Chico Unified Management Association continue to communicate regarding questions posed by CUMA members.


	April 7, 2010 CUTA: Representatives from CUTA/CTA and the District met on March 22 with the mediator assigned to our case given that we have been declared by PERB as being at Impasse. That meeting did not result in a solution. At this point the mediator has indicated that she is not sending the parties to Fact Finding and will continue to work to find dates that the parties can meet. CSEA: The Chapter's initial proposal for 2010-11 was sunshined at the Board meeting on March 24. On March 25 the District requested dates that the Chapter could begin negotiations. The Chapter representative acknowledged that they are working to find dates but thus far we have not received any such dates from the Chapter. CUMA: The Chico Unified Management Association Co-Presidents provided Senior Cabinet with a list of questions from CUMA members regarding the proposals offered to obtain the needed compensation reductions. Those questions were discussed at the Cabinet level to insure that we all had a clear understanding of the questions and the associated issues presented. Responses will be provided to CUMA.


	March 24, 2010 At the last Board meeting I noted in my report that our District is currently experiencing one of the, if not the, most significant fiscal crisis in our history. The only way out of this is for all of us to work together to find solutions. The amount of reductions needed is staggering. Over the course of the last 10 years we have continuously trimmed our budget by cutting programs. We sent out a press release that has prompted news reports about some improvements in our District's budget picture. Our budget has improved due to difficult decisions that this Board has recently made most of which will impact students. The improvement is also the result of some one time and in some cases unexpected income from the State. It is important to keep in mind that the improvements, while real, are short lived in that we fully expect our budget to be in "negative" with the start of the 2010-11. We continue to have a structural deficit that is now projected to be $4.7 million in 2010-11 and $9.4 million by 2011-12, averaging $7 million over the next two years. Given the size of the budget gap, and the percentage of the district budget that is committed to employee compensation, we must look to the negotiations process to help resolve our problem. CUTA: On February 2, 2010, the District and CUTA were certified by the Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) to impasse. Subsequently a mediator was assigned to the case. On February 17, 2010, CUTA sunshined their initial proposal for the 2009-10 school year. Recently the parties met with the mediator assigned to the case. No further meeting dates have been set. The parties remain at impasse. CSEA Chapter 110: As I noted in my presentation on March 3, neither party submitted an initial proposal prior to March 15, 2009, to formally open negotiations for the 2009-10 school year. As a result, negotiations for the 09-10 school year did not formally open. The District sunshined it's initial proposal for the contract year of 2010-11 to the Chapter on November 20, 2009, and to the public at the Board meeting on December 2, 2009. The District opted to open three articles of the contract dealing with wages, hours of employment and Health and Welfare benefits. Tonight's agenda includes the sunshining of CSEA's initial proposal for 2010-11. Their proposal is for a successor agreement that in essence opens the entire collective bargaining agreement. Negotiations for the 2010-11 year should start shortly. CUMA: The Chico Unified Management Association Co-Presidents have met with District staff and discussed options for reductions in compensation. They have shared those concepts with the CUMA membership and are working through issues that have come out of those discussions.


	MARCH 3, 2010 Negotiations Update: Our District is currently experiencing one of the, if not the, most significant fiscal crisis in our history. The only way out of this is for all of us to work together to find solutions. The amount of reductions needed is staggering. Over the course of the last 10 years we have continuously trimmed our budget by cutting programs. We have in the past two years instituted layoffs to bring our staffing in alignment with our declining student population. Given that 90% of our expenditures are in employee compensation and the magnitude of our budget shortfall, we are forced to negotiate compensation issues that hurt everyone who works in CUSD. We must also acknowledge that many of the choices that will be considered to reduce costs will adversely affect the students of our District. The District must move forward with the difficult discussions required in negotiations. These will be painful but are necessary for the survival of CUSD and its continued ability to maintain local control. We want very much to work with the leadership of the bargaining groups to find the best manner in which to find a fair and equitable way to do this. The statement needs to be made that no single bargaining group (CUTA, CSEA, Chapter 110, or CUMA) is responsible for our current status. However, they are the solution. We need to find a way to reach solutions that are immediate, ongoing savings that will allow us to continue to manage our District in a fiscally responsible manner while providing a quality education to the students of our community. CUTA: In very positive action, on August 24, 2009, the District and CUTA reached agreement on, among other issues, CUTA members moving to the Red Plan for medical insurance. This three-year agreement is projected to save the District approximately $1 million dollars each year with the exception of the first year when we should save approximately $750,000 due to implementation on November 1. Unfortunately, this needs to be a starting point and not an ending point. For almost a year, the District has been communicating to CUTA its intent and the need to bargain 2009/10. Between March 27, 2009, and December 2, 2009, the District communicated on at least ten separate occasions with CUTA the need for the parties to negotiate for the 2009/10 year. After sunshining the District's initial proposal in June 2009, requesting dates from CUTA to meet, providing CUTA with proposed dates and providing CUTA with a formal proposal on October 15 we have had no signs from CUTA of an active interest in meeting to bargain. As a result on December 28, 2009, the District requested that PERB (Public Employment Relations Board) declare the existence of an impasse and assign a mediator to help resolve the issues and move us toward a solution. On February 1, 2010, PERB certified CUSD and CUTA to impasse and assigned a mediator. On February 2, 2010, the mediator contacted both parties and proposed four (4) dates in February and March to explore potential settlement options. The District advised the mediator that its team would be available on all four of the proposed dates. CUTA has advised that mediator that they would not meet until sometime after June 1, 2010. Given the staggering financial cuts imposed on CUSD by the State of California we have a responsibility and an obligation to balance the budget in a fair and timely manner. As approximately 90% of our costs are in employee compensation, this will require a collaborative effort between the District and the leadership of the employee bargaining groups. CSEA Chapter 110: In September 2008 the District and CSEA, Chapter 110 reached agreement on a cost neutral golden handshake provision. The parties agreed later that negotiations for that year had concluded. The process to implement that agreement took some time to finalize. On January 10, 2010, we reached a tentative agreement on this implementation. Chapter 110 ratified this agreement. This will come before the Board at the meeting on March 24 after we have complied with the AB 1200 requirements and the TA (Tentative Agreement) has passed review by BCOE. For the contract year of 2009-2010 neither party submitted initial proposals prior to March 15, 2009, to formally open negotiations. As a result of no proposals there were no topics to negotiate. The contract does allow for the parties to mutually agree to negotiate any portion of the agreement, but Chapter 110 made it clear that they had no interest in opening negotiations for 2009-10 because the deadline of March 15, 2009, had passed. The parties did meet several times from March 2009 through October 2009 and shared proposals/concepts dealing with a variety of topics including medical plans for active members and retirees, custodial services, reductions in compensation and changes to the Golden Handshake provision, etc. The last session dealing with such comprehensive proposals was held on October 28, 2009. Chapter 110 representatives stated that since the District proposals did not meet their core values they saw no value in continuing further meetings. The District sunshined it's initial proposal for the contract year of 2010-2011 to the Chapter on November 20, 2009, and to the public at the Board meeting on December 2, 2009. We were told by the Chapter leadership that they needed to survey their membership before providing their initial proposal. The District anticipates receipt of that proposal shortly. CUMA: This fall we provided the leadership of CUMA (Chico Unified Management Association) with options to affect reductions in compensation. These options included reductions in salary, furlough days and/or reductions in benefits. CUMA has indicated a willingness to explore the options and to look at the impact of the options on the various subgroups of CUMA (i.e., administrators, classified management, psychologists and classified confidential).

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