Over to the Dark Side

Yesterday I traveled with our union president and another negotiator to hear what the other side of the table was hearing at their semi annual meeting in Sacramento. We were invited to attend by our HR and business person at the District office.

We were on the road at 5AM to avoid the traffic. Our destination was the downtown Hyatt. We arrived in time to register and have a sweet roll in the lobby. The first session was a general session with about 250 members of the School Service in attendance. They had the latest from their sources as to what happened in the budget of Sacramento. They also heard predictions regarding next year and the year following. After a couple of hours of hearing the economics play out, there were others at the mic talking about the future of prop 98, and demographics of health care and the three major plans that are in the works. The topic of declining enrollment was discussed. Thank goodness our district is not one of those. About half the districts in the state are facing declining enrollment.

Lunch was provided at the Sheraton, a short walk away. Chicken with a demi mushroom glaze, salad with a pepercorn cesear dessing, traditional cheesecake with a rasberry mouse sauce.

This year appears to be a year without the crazy parts of the budget. The COLA is fully funded.

Last year the state had more money. It funded a significant about of categorical programs. Everything from Art to Pe teachers on a lottery basis for elementary schools. We got a raft of new counselors from this money. The elementary pe teachers apparently had a problem with their lottery and all schools that were lucky enough to be selected int he lottery were reshuffled and a new group will be chosen. So even though there was money for some elementary districts to get pe teachers,no money was distrubted.

There was a whole group of schools in the bottom decile that received extraordinary support. The state is looking at success rate for these schools to determine if that is the way to go for true reform for all California schools. The results are not in on these schools.

Special ed took another hit in financing. But got some support for how they are counted in the numbers when special ed students pass the test.

It was an interesting but tiring day.

Pat