WELCOME BACK 

If you’re getting this – its good news! What a summer. We started off last year with a robust raise only to see cut after cut in state funding. Yet we were able (thus far) to save every job.

LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS 

VOLUME XXVII, Number 10                  PCTA-PESPA.ORG                             April 22, 2008

DR. WILCOX TO RESIGN JUNE 1 

Dr. Clayton Wilcox has announced plans to leave Pinellas County and join Scholastic Corporation. Subject to School Board approval, his last day will be June 1.

VOLUME XXVII, Number 9                          March 24, 2008

STATE CONFRONTS HUGE BUDGET SHORTFALL 

Pinellas schools have received word that their budget for this year will be cut by an additional $10 million with additional cuts coming next year. This, despite the promise that education would be “held harmless.” The process unfolded in Tallahassee last week as state economists met to “predict” the future in the quarterly Revenue Estimating Conference.

  PESPA NEXT ASSOCIATION REPRESENTIVE MEETING CHANGES

The February 5 PESPA Regional meeting has been cancelled because the joint AR/FR Regional meetings are on Thursday, February 7. The meetings for north county will be held at Countryside High, for mid county, the PCTA-PESPA offices and for south county, St.Peterburg High. All three meetings start sharply at 4:45 p.m. If you are unable to attend any of these locations please ask someone to come in your place. PESPAs AR meeting will be March 4 at which time all of those running for the association offices will have the opportunity to speak to the membership.

  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We hope that you and yours had a restful Winter Holiday. Now the countdown begins to Spring Break and the end of the year. Here at PESPA, we are preparing for an active spring with the legislative session starting March 7 and the political season heating up. A majority of legislative and school board seats will be selected this year. In addition, Florida will elect a new governor and members of congress. As we start the second half of the school year, we want to take a moment to thank the hundreds of volunteers who serve the members of PESPA and PCTA as well as the larger educational community on our government relations, political action and bargaining committees. Additionally, nearly 100 members serve as Association Representatives, providing the vital link between PESPA and its members.  THANKS! - Editor

  Happy New Year!

REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN IN FULL SWING

It's the new year and attention now focuses on the referendum campaign. Every school marquee in the county had this ‘holiday' message during the break: "Our dollars for our schools. $42 million a year for our kids. School Board Referendum January 29^th." It is a powerful reminder of the important vote coming up in just three weeks. "PESPA members have benefited from the referendum," said PESPA President Randy Dodds. "The salary increases and the stability of our benefits were things that PESPA members received. $42 million provided for tremendous resources for our kids. I urge PESPA members to actively support the campaign."

CONTRACT RATIFIED BY WIDE MARGIN

In voting Wednesday, October 24, Pinellas support professionals ratified the 2007-2008 economic package by a vote of 1464 in favor to 78 against. The 95% margin of victory reflects the overwhelming support for the agreement since the infusion of "referendum" money into the district's budget three years ago. "I'm pleased this is finally done," said PESPA President Randy Dodds. "Our members haven't had to wait this long for a raise in modern history." The lengthy delay was caused by the failure of the legislature to reach agreement on filling a one billion dollar hole in the state's budget. "I want to thank the district and association leaders and staff who patiently worked to put this together," Dodds said. "And I really want to thank the members for their patience."

PESPA BOARD RECOMMENDS CONTRACT SETTLEMENT

The PESPA Executive Board voted last Thursday to recommend a "yes" vote on the proposed salary and benefit package for 2007-2008. Voting will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, October 24, at each work site. If ratified by the PESPA bargaining unit, it will be presented to the School Board October 30. Following their ratification, raises and retroactive pay will be in the checks of November 16. "This was a long time coming," said PESPA President Randy Dodds. "In the 40 year history of collective bargaining in Pinellas, it has never taken this long to get an agreement."

CONTRACT TALKS STILL STALLED

The on again – off again special session of the legislature has kept a salary settlement from being achieved by members of the bargaining team. Although PESPA believes that the cuts to K-12 education will be minimal, district budget officials are unnerved by the potential size of a “worst case” scenario in which as much as $36 million could be lost (according to an e-mail from the Superintendent). Unlike Hillsborough, which was sitting on a 10% budget reserve, Pinellas has dipped into its reserves each of the last several years because of declining enrollment.