ABC School Board Approves Tentative Union Pay Agreement

By Jerry Bernstein

A tentative agreement between the ABC School Board and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees [AFSCME], Local 2229 for the 2010-11 school year was approved by the Board at its July 13 meeting.
The agreement includes 18 holidays, which include 10 legal and eight local. Salary schedules will be reduced to reflect four less days of work, which are equivalent of four furlough days from the contract year 2008-9. An additional local holiday will be granted on May 27 2011 and the 2010-11 salary schedules for all AFSCME employees will be reduced to reflect five less days of work. This is equivalent of five furlough days from the contract 2008-9 if any of the following occur:
The final State budget reduces the Districts general fund revenue by at least $1 million more than the May 2010 revises.
The final benefits agreement increases the District contribution by more than $1.8 million in 2910-11.
There is a mid-year funding reduction to the District’s general funds in excess of $1 million during the 2010-11 school year.
Calculation of base salary, longevity, professional growth, and upgrades will be based on revised salary schedules for 2010-11 that will reflect four or five furlough days.
Overtime, extra hours and stipends will be paid on the 2008-09 salary schedules, not the revised salary schedules.
All 10-month hourly employees will be allotted one less vacation day for the 2010-11 school year.
Contingency Language
No permanent AFSCME employees will be subject to a lay-off during the 20010-11 school year.
If the District receives additional revenue for the 2010-11 school year, the Union and the District will meet to review the budget and to work together to allocate additional revenue in a fair and equitable manner with the goal of restoring one to four furlough days.
Any AFSCME employee who signs an irrevocable letter of resignation effective June 30, 2011 by October 31, 2010, will have their annual salary based on the 2008-09 salary scheduled [non furloughed]. These employees would remain eligible to participate in any retirement incentive plans the District offers during the 2010-11 school year.
The District will correct errors on pay warrants as a result of this agreement written 20 working days of notification of the error.
Revise Article XVI in Personal Necessity to allow for a maximum of 10 days instead of seven for Personal leave.
This agreement is not precedent setting and expires on June 30, 2001.
Principal Search
The search for new principals at Stowers and Gonsalves Elementary Schools are officially under way with the appointment of Ms. Ying Chen and Robert Hyun to the district’s screening committee. The two principal positions became vacant effective July Gonsalves Principal Claudia Ross is retiring and Stowers Principal Eileen Blagden was demoted to a teaching position.
Naming Ms. Chen to the committee was Board Member Olympia Chen. [Not related]. Ms. Chen has resided in the District for four years. She is currently a Library Assistant-Supervisor at the University of Irvine and was the PTA Treasurer at Whitney High School for the past year. Ms. Chen has a child attending Whitney and another child who is a former student at Gonsalves Elementary School.
Robert Hyun, who was named by Board Member James Kang, is a computer programmer. He has lived in the District for 11 years and has two children attending Stowers Elementary School. Mr. Hyun helped to introduce the Jog-A-Thon at Stowers and is currently involved with the PTA and School Site Council. He also coaches baseball, basketball and soccer in the community.