Volta Issues Explanation on Teacher Negotiations, Mediation Planned for Thursday

After a flyer was posted to social media on Monday attacking the Liberty High School Union School District exposing failed labor negotiations, Superintendent Eric Volta issued a statement trying to provide clarifications.

The two sides had been in negotiations since March 2015 and both have admitted the talks are at an impasse. The two sides will meet on Thursday in mediation. If talks stall, students from Freedom High School in Oakley and both Liberty High School and Heritage High School in Brentwood will continue to be impacted.

According to the flyer which was urging support for educators, it states that Liberty Education Association members will be impacted in a variety of ways such as lunches will now be “duty free”, staff will only be available from 8:05 am to 3:15 pm, unpaid club advisors will not be holding meetings, email and phone communications will occur during their prep period while grade books may be updated twice per month.

The flyer stated the districts budget has increased more than $18 million over the last two years while accusing the District is not maintaining a 3% reserve and instead have a healthy reserve of 13.5% to 18.6%–or $9.8 million.

The flyer further noted between 2009-2014, teacher salaries only increased 0.5% in 2012 and 3.29% in 2014. The impasse is reportedly over $411,114 between what the District is offering and what the members are currently negotiating for Certificated salary increase which represent 0.5% of the $79.6 million budget.

Here is a copy of the letter sent out by Superintendent Volta on Tuesday evening.

Dear LUHSD Community,

I would like to inform you of the facts relating to the recent negotiations process with our local teachers union. As outlined in the November 18th edition of the The Press, we have been in negotiations since March 2015. Much has been accomplished in the dozen or more meetings in terms of clarifications of contract language. Unfortunately we are at an impasse primarily due to compensation. There is an initial mediation session scheduled for Thursday, January 7th as the first step after impasse.

The total compensation offer on the table is 5%; 4.5% in salary with an additional 0.5% added to our benefits package. This offer will raise the top teacher’s salary in the district to $93,161.75 or $503.58/day when divided by the 185-day work year. The average teacher salary in the district will increase to $73,429.02 or $396.91/day. In addition, the district’s benefits package offer will increase to a total of $19,873.80/year for health, vision, and dental for those teachers taking family benefits.

The District values our teachers as we do with all of our employees and there is no way to place a value on that adult that truly makes a profound positive impact on a student. That is why, if the proposal on the table were accepted, the teachers’ compensation will have increased by 11.54% over three years, and the total amount spent on the benefits packages will have increased by 2.5% of the teacher salary cost. The District also made an initial proposal to increase to all extra-duty stipends (coaches, advisors, department chairs, etc.) by 5%. This is in addition to the automatic step and column increases for longevity and education. I would like to acknowledge that over the past three years, teachers have agreed to add two staff development days to their work year and have agreed to increase their minimum work day by five minutes.

It is important to note that, by law, school districts are required to project their budgets three years out. This multiyear budget is also reviewed by the County Office of Education. In projecting a multiyear budget with the most recent proposal included, it shows that the district is willing to spend down the fund balance by as much as $4.9 million over the next three years. Much of this is due to the dramatic increases to the employer contributions to the state retirement system. Additionally, with the passage of a state-wide school bond measure still in question, it is up to the District to find ways to keep our facilities up-to-date. One example of this is the new science wing that is currently being constructed at Liberty High School to replace 6 portables that were installed over 25 years ago. Unfortunately, there are more projects on our list to accommodate the enrollment increases we anticipate and to “equalize” our facilities.

As with you I am hopeful that through the mediation process we can reach an agreement with our teachers that will still support our highest priority, our students. It should be said that the negotiations process should be conducted outside of the classroom and outside of the minimum work day. If you have questions or concerns, please call your site administration, or Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Denise Rugani at 634-2166 ext. 2045.

Sincerely,

Eric. L Volta