Let's keep this simple. If Step and Column raises are suspended for the lengthy of the parcel tax, it will likely pass. If not, it won't. Period.

Why only make those who are still eligible for Step and Column contribute? Keep S & C and cut across the board 10-15% The long term seniority people should contribute the same percentage as the low seniority employees. Everyone should contribute fairly.

Let's just offer our children online programs and be done with those ridiculous contracts.

PUSD made an obvious typo in putting the wrong school year in their board materials, and therefore had to pull the agenda item from the meeting. And we are to trust them with imposing a parcel tax on all Pleasanton parcel owners?

Oh no,

A TYPO!! Fire all the teachers!!! A typo. Wow Start Afresh, we are just so glad you are on top of this!! How can we trust teachers to teach creationism in schools, when they make typos??? Next thing you know they'll tell little children that people came from apes!!! OK if they're so smart how come we don't see apes still evolvin into to people?? How come apes are still here? Hmm? Bet all you liberal union types didn't think of that!!!

Step and Column have to go. I cannot vote for a parcel tax with S&C.

To 'comment' -
PUSD is on a trajectory to issue layoff notices to dozens of employees in 5 weeks. How PUSD negotiates with APT could prevent it from happening. That 5 weeks is now 4 weeks due to this error.
While serious decisions about our kids education and adult careers are hanging in the balance, you want to talk about apes and creationism.
I'll say it again, in the public sector, people get fired for these kinds of mistakes.
Who gets held accountable here?

Man, I miss a meeting and there's a crisis over a typo? I think this may be a bit overblown.

The basic news, that the board and APT are about to begin formal negotiations, is good news!

The Patch article had more detail, as well -- "The Association of Pleasanton Teachers ... is interested in looking into health and welfare benefits, job share limits, the calendar schedule and salaries. Meanwhile, the Pleasanton Unified School District... delves into hours of employment, class size and salaries."

If past years are any indication, we will not hear any more about the opening proposals from either side, beyond the identified topics of discussion. This is consistent with the principles of interest-based bargaining, which have historically guided APT-PUSD negotiations. Those principles have helped in the past to identify proposals that neither side might have generated on their own, but that help to address budget and other concerns.

From the public record, we know that both sides are planning to discuss salaries. This is good!

The calendar and hours of employment are also topics for negotiation. I'm speculating, but I believe there could be an exploration of how to retain collaboration time in the high schools without returning to the more expensive 7-period day, or (possibly) how to return to the 7-period day without incurring such a large cost.

Any citizen with suggestions about specific suggestions about the contract negotiations can speak with board members about those suggestions at any time.
Don't let a typo stand in your way.

Sandy - Last year at this time, PUSD and APT had an agreement already signed. And this year, they are just getting started? While the Superintendent is out shopping the parcel tax to realtors, the Chamber of Commerce, the PDA, and more, her staff can't seem to take care of standard procedures. All your praise does not ignore the enormous delay in getting the business of running a school district done.
Trustee Grant wants to know where everyone is? Their tactic of Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt and using layoffs to get everyone to support the parcel tax is not generating the support they desire. Could it be leading to the 'budget fatigue' that Trustee Laursen spoke about?

"Start Afresh",

"I'll say it again, in the public sector, people get fired for these kinds of mistakes."

Ha ha ha. I'm sure you're the CEO of a major company and would never let this happen!! Heads would role!! A TYPO!!! But that's the way these Marxist Muslim evolutionists behave. Just ask the president. Thanks for the laugh.

To 'comment' - well, as a matter of fact......... I have rolled a few heads in my time. Setting high expectations yields excellence.
Who's talking about Marxist Muslim evolutionists besides you?
I'm looking for a school district that is excellent in all dimensions including financial so that our children get the best education possible using the available resources.

"I'm looking for a school district that is excellent in all dimensions"

Sorry to say you're gonna just have to keep looking. We got a district that is bad in all dimensions! Bad teachers! Bad lessons! No prayer in school! No creationism! No segregation! Just a lot of monkey talk!

Keep it coming! Palin/O'Donnell in 2012!!