Capistrano Unified to Reopen Furlough, Class Size Talks With Unions

To address a budget shortfall which has now grown to $33.5 million next school year at best, the is looking to re-open negotiations with several employee groups, including teachers.

At its meeting Monday night, the Board of Trustees is expected to pass a resolution to reopen contract talks.

For the Capistrano Unified Education Association, the teachers’ union, on the table are:

• Furlough days
• Shorter work days
• Larger classroom sizes in all grades
• Adjustments in release time (because of larger-size classes, teachers are able to take time away from the classroom a month, which vary by grade;  see the contract, Page 19)
• Benefits

The district also reserves to open other areas for negotiation as well, states the proposal the trustees will consider.

“Through good faith, collaborative, fact-driven and reality-based negotiations, the district believes that the parties will arrive at mutually acceptable solutions even in these uncertain economic times,” says the proposal.

The ultimate language may allow for contingencies and restorations should the economy improve or worsen, the proposal says.

On the table for the non-teaching employees of the California School Employees Association, such as instructional aides and office help, are:

• Furlough days
• Wages
• Benefits
• Adjustments in release time

A smaller number of non-teaching employees are members of the Teamsters, such as bus and truck drivers. The district proposes to change their contract with respect to:

• Furlough days
• Vacation time
• Benefits
• Transportation provisions (the district proposes to amend language that streamlines operations to achieve savings)

Also at the meeting, the trustees are expected to approve an interim report about this year’s budget, saying the district may not be solvent in the coming years.

At the same time, the district will give kindergarten teachers a slight raise because they have been teaching more minutes than their memorandum of understanding with the district calls for.  

The trustees will consider a new memorandum that will reflect their current day of 303 minutes daily, instead of the 291 minutes it currently says kindergarten teachers work. The extra 12 minutes a day translates into $179,000 more a year in total salaries paid out, but will be offset by $98,000 the district receives in class-size reduction revenue from the state.

The board meets at 7 p.m. Monday at the district headquarters, 33122 Valle Road in San Juan Capistrano.