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The Pleasanton school board marked their final meeting of 2021 by holding two public hearings on upcoming negotiations with both of Pleasanton Unified School District’s collective bargaining units last week.
An initial bargaining proposal from the Association of Pleasanton Teachers for the 2022-23 school year was unanimously sunshined at a Board of Trustees special meeting on Dec. 16. The district said that APT “has an interest in exploring and modifying” sections of the agreement for the term July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025.
The seven articles to be negotiated include automatic re-openers such as calendar and salaries, as well as class size, hours of employment, leave of absence and payroll deductions.
Referring to tense negotiations between PUSD and APT over the past year that culminated in the teachers union voting to authorize a strike, Trustee Mark Miller said both parties need to admit fault “before healing can begin.”
“As such, I would like to publicly and humbly offer my sincere apologies to our teachers for not being as effective a listener as I could be, for maybe not displaying the level of respect that perhaps is expected, and for taking actions that harmed rather than helped build trust,” Miller said.
Adding that he is committed “to being a better partner in 2022,” Miller said, “I would also like to ask APT to acknowledge their part in these relationship challenges and await an apology to that effect, so that we can begin the process of constructively and congenially helping ensure that our students who do deserve the best, get the best.”
APT President Michelle VerKuilen said during public comment that union members “look forward to hearing from management soon regarding the bargaining dates we have proposed for January and February, and are eager to negotiate in a positive, collaborative environment.”
VerKuillen added, “We are committed to working cooperatively and efficiently to conclude our bargain before the school year’s end, a resolution that will benefit all.”
A memorandum of understanding with the California School Employees Association, which represents PUSD’s classified bargaining unit, was also unanimously approved by the trustees Dec. 16. The MOU concerns reorganization and revised job descriptions of classified employees within the district’s fiscal services department, and includes several reclassified positions.
Assistant superintendent of human resources Julio Hernandez said the district looked at divisions within their departments “to see if there’s an opportunity to reorganize and become more effective and more efficient.”
CSEA accepted the district’s proposal, and “we did negotiate and work out the job descriptions to be able to reorganize again the purchasing and fiscal departments within the division,” Hernandez said.
Trustee Mary Jo Carreon asked about the job description for a purchasing specialist, and whether there is “any way to cut out the middleman” and let teachers order materials directly from supplies like Amazon.
Assistant superintendent of business services Ahmad Sheikholeslami said the option is being currently piloted at Donlon Elementary and Foothill High, “and will soon, once we work out the kinks, be coming to all the school sites.”
The fiscal impact of the agreement with CSEA is estimated to be $65,000 to $70,000.
Another MOU between the district and CSEA was also approved as part of the consent agenda that evening. According to the MOU, “health services assistants are being assigned additional duties and are working out of class due to COVID-19,” and will be paid at a higher out-of-class temporary rate “or five percent (5%) above the unit member’s regular rate of pay, whichever is greater.”
The agreement is effective Dec. 1 through June 3, 2022, and will cost approximately $2,000 funded by a grant.
Are you kidding me Trustee Miller? This reminds me of what Donald trump said about the violent protests in Charlottesville, Va. – “That there are very fine people on both sides.” You’re right about one thing – that the Board, the Sup, and cabinet owe teachers an apology. You’re handling of the situation was divisive and and irresponsible. Teachers had every right to be upset. Requesting an apology is comical. It’s also undeserved and misguided.
Trustee Miller, a sincere apology should be unconditional and not include the words ‘maybe’, ‘perhaps’, and ‘expected’. In part, your apology should have read, “For not displaying the level of respect that is deserved.” At that point you should have stopped talking. To say that you “await an apology” makes you appear pompous. APT do not owe you anything. “Healing” can only begin when you and your fellow trustees afford teachers the same respect given to the Superintendent and cabinet.
Im the first to say the teachers union is the biggest inhibitor to quality (equity) education and breakthroughs to.
That said, the board one upped the union over the past year. Time for a change on the administrative side if we ever want a meaningful change on the union side.
The union is in the right here in their frustration
Trustee Miller:
I will absolutely apologize to you as a teacher in PUSD. But first I want Assistant Superintendent Julio Hernandez to apologize to both the district, board, and teachers for putting us in a position to have to authorize a strike. Your inaction allowed him to awaken the giant and we will not settle for less than PUSD deserves.