PESPA Pride: October 1, 2007

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.

“Unfortunately, the lack of reserves would give the district no option but to cut positions and programs if the contract were already settled,” said PESPA Executive Director Jade Moore. “We had the same situation in 1992 and 2001 and it wasn’t pretty. The blame here is not with the district but with the legislature. Our school fiscal year is one-fourth over, which catches us between a rock and a hard place. If we ‘guess’ wrong, we have only a fraction of the year to make up the loss.”

The Bargaining Team has created a series of scenarios that will frame the settlement as soon as a number is determined. With no budget cuts, raises will average at least 4.6%. With a two percent cut in state funds ($16 million), raises would average 1.9%. “We know there is no way members will ratify a 1.9% settlement, so there is no need to go through the exercise,” said PESPA President Randy Dodds. “Our commitment is to get the best possible settlement as early as possible.”

“Reports from our local legislators indicate that, as of today, the cuts will be targeted and education will likely be spared,” Moore added. “Unfortunately, there isn’t a high level of predictability in what the Governor and Legislature might do. It is simply a matter of them getting off their butts and doing something. School employees are the ones paying while they fiddle.”

COURT KNOCKS PROPERTY TAX CUT OFF BALLOT

A Circuit Court Judge in Broward County handed the legislature a stunning setback when he ruled that the proposed constitutional amendment to create a “super homestead exemption” was unclear. The measure, which would have cost public schools $8 billion over the next five years, replaced the current Save Our Homes annual limit with a giant homestead exemption. What it didn’t say, according to the judge, was that it effectively repealed Save Our Homes except for those who exercised a one-time option to keep it.

The Super Homestead Exemption, along with state mandated spending cuts to local government, was designed to lower property tax bills. Local governments (and the state through the mandated school tax) were the beneficiaries of the overheated real estate market over the last few years. As that market has cooled, so has the enthusiasm for cutting property taxes, a major source of local government revenue.

“People were beginning to realize that there is no free lunch,” said Jade Moore. “If you want government services, you have to pay for them and, without a state income tax, an intangibles tax or any other wealth tax, property is what’s left. I am hopeful that the Tax and Budget Reform Commission will be able to reveal some positive ways to fund Florida’s future. The legislature certainly hasn’t.”

BOARD ASKED TO SCHEDULE JANUARY VOTE TO EXTEND REFERENDUM

Citizens for Pinellas Schools, the non-profit political committee supporting the millage referendum to support Pinellas schools has asked the Board to begin the process of placing the renewal of the referendum before the voters in the January 29th primary. This will require two votes by the School Board and one by the County Commission. The decision to move forward was based on data from a public opinion poll, paid for by the members of PCTA, that indicated strong public support, regardless of when the election was held.

PAPERWORK AND MEETING LIMITS STILL A HIGH PRIORITY

Almost ten years ago, bargainers for the School Board and the Association agreed (Article 31, F) that it was important for schools to form working committees to identify ways to reduce paperwork and meetings. A few years later, the Area Superintendents joined the effort to assure that each school complied. The Committee is comprised of the principal, the PESPA Association Rep (A.P.), the PCTA Faculty Representative (F.R.) and two others appointed by them. Their task is to review mandatory meetings with an eye toward reducing them as well as paperwork. Their plan must be approved by the faculty and submitted to the Area Superintendents by October 15.

The District also has a Paper Flow Committee comprised of teachers, support professionals and administrators that study ways to streamline or eliminate paperwork. Under Florida law, the Committee has one teacher designated by PCTA, responsible for receiving paperwork reduction suggestions and communicating them to the School Board. PCTA President Kim Black has appointed Kai Rush, teacher at Largo High School, to that position. In the near future, faculty and staff will be contacted by Kai and the Committee for ideas on how to ease the paperwork burden.

‘LEADERSHIP LIFEBOAT’ CONTINUES WITH HIGH LEVEL GUESTS

Thirteen PESPA members are participating in a “Leadership Lifeboat” training experience that meets bi-weekly at the PESPA office. The Lifeboat training is designed to equip potential leaders with a strong background in the organization. In their second meeting last Wednesday, participants met with Joanne McCall, Vice President of the Florida Education Association and Linda Bacon, from the Human and Civil Rights Division of the National Education Association. Joanne and Linda described the history of our state and national affiliates and their mission. PESPA is affiliated with FEA, NEA and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). When a person joins the local, he or she joins all four.

DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS TO MEET WITH REPS AT REGIONAL MEETINGS THURSDAY

This Thursday, October 4, PESPA Association Representatives will be meeting with the new Regional Associate Superintendents and other District Administrators to discuss current issues. The meetings begin at 4:45 and end at 6:00 and are held in the Media Centers at St. Pete High and Countryside High and the PCTA Office. The District Administrators will discuss the Student Assignment Plan and Reorganization and take questions from the Reps. PESPA staff will bring the latest information on the contract and the special session of the legislature. These meetings are open to PESPA members, but in the interest of time, only Reps are allowed to ask questions.

STANDING COMMITTEES HOLD INITIAL MEETINGS, MORE MEMBERS WELCOME

PESPA and PCTA have two standing committees that are open to all members, Government Relations (G.R.) and Human and Civil Rights (H.C.R.). G.R. studies political issues and works with the School Board and legislative delegation. H.C.R. is charged with establishing programs and activities which promote human and civil rights issues within PCTA-PESPA and the District. The Chair of G.R. is Sharon Flory and their next meeting is October 15 at 4:45 at the office. The Chair of H.C.R. is Brandt Robinson and their next meeting is October 22 at 4:45 at the office. For more information, see the next issue of the Pinellas Educator or call the office.