URGENT UPDATE: Capistrano Unified Budget Crisis
CUSD Reform Trustees Successfully Finalize Union
Contract Terms
• Class Sizes Will NOT Be Increased
• Dozens of Teachers' Jobs Saved
• But Union Leader Threatens to Strike
Your Elected Reform Trustees:
• Were Forced to Cut $25 Million from Last Year's Budget
• Must Cut $34 Million More This Year
• Voted to Save Dozens of Teachers' Jobs
• Voted to Preserve Smallest Possible Class Sizes
Union Leaders:
• Are Now Threatening to Strike
• Want Board to Lay Off Hundreds of Young, Talented, Energetic Teachers
• Want Board to Increase Class Sizes
• Want to Preserve Higher Salaries/Benefits for Most Senior Members at the Expense of the Students, Young Teachers and Taxpayers of CUSD!
LOOK: Photo of Teachers Union Pres. Vicki Soderberg
who wants more money for her most senior members…
...even if it hurts our children and younger teachers!
• Class Sizes Will NOT Be Increased
• Dozens of Teachers' Jobs Saved
• But Union Leader Threatens to Strike
Your Elected Reform Trustees:
• Were Forced to Cut $25 Million from Last Year's Budget
• Must Cut $34 Million More This Year
• Voted to Save Dozens of Teachers' Jobs
• Voted to Preserve Smallest Possible Class Sizes
Union Leaders:
• Are Now Threatening to Strike
• Want Board to Lay Off Hundreds of Young, Talented, Energetic Teachers
• Want Board to Increase Class Sizes
• Want to Preserve Higher Salaries/Benefits for Most Senior Members at the Expense of the Students, Young Teachers and Taxpayers of CUSD!
LOOK: Photo of Teachers Union Pres. Vicki Soderberg
who wants more money for her most senior members…
...even if it hurts our children and younger teachers!
The
Capistrano Unified School Board is facing a crisis.
They are being forced to cut $34 million from the
2010-2011 budget...which is especially painful
because the Board members were forced to cut $25
million from this year’s budget.
Our school district was ill-prepared to deal with the
State’s current budget crisis because former
Superintendent James Fleming (now indicted for
multiple felonies and awaiting trial) and his seven
“old guard” trustees had engaged in years of gross
fiscal mismanagement (e.g. massive deficit spending
on an annual basis, failure to maintain adequate
reserves, construction of a luxurious $52 million
Administration Building).
Your
seven recently elected CUSD “Reform Trustees” (Ellen
Addonizio, Anna Bryson, Larry Christensen, Ken
Maddox, Sue Palazzo, Mike Winsten and Jack Brick)
proudly promised voters they would balance the
budget, not permit deficit spending, would try to
save the jobs of teachers in CUSD and preserve small
class sizes for the students. In order to do so, it
was obvious the Reform Trustees needed to reduce the
overall cost of the public employee union contracts
because:
• California Public School Teachers Are the Highest Paid In the Nation!
• CUSD teachers have received 54.5% aggregate pay increases over the past 15 years!
• 88% of our school district's massive annual budget is spent on salaries, benefits and retirement for the public employees!
So, Who Is Looking Out For The Children And Taxpayers Of CUSD?
It’s not the union leaders...
Last week, your Reform Board members kept their promise to voters by approving new union contract terms, which did NOT increase class size and preserved dozens of teachers' jobs! Sadly, this has upset union leaders:
• Union Leaders Are Now Threatening to Strike in the Middle of the School Year!
READ the OC Register Story
Union Members have even used our children as political pawns by encouraging students to walk out of class in protest. Union supporters are currently attempting to organize an illegal student walkout on April 13th. This is despicable!
READ the OC Register Story
READ the OC Register Story
• Union Leaders Are Now Backing an Unjust Campaign to Recall Two of Your Reform Board Members -- Which Could Drain $800,000 from Our Classrooms!
READ the great OC Register Editorial Opposing this unjust recall effort, which stated:
• “To make matters even more interesting, the teachers union – which has been in bitter contract negotiations with the school board – is supporting the recall.”
• “It also seems though that the tension with the school board and the union also comes down to money.”
• “The trustees elected in 2008 have been in office a little over one year of a four-year term, a period of tough economic times. The board cut administration and staff salaries by about 10 percent to balance a prior budget. Now, the board faces $25 million in budget cuts for the next budget cycle. To do that the board is calling on teachers to take a 10 percent pay cut, which may help explain why the union backs the current recall…”
• “The union does not want teachers to endure a 10 percent pay cut, demanding the district instead tap its reserve fund to make up the difference. The union already called on teachers to "work to the contract," a strategy where teachers don't use any of their "personal time" out of school to grade papers, return parent phone calls, etc. That tactic did not deter the board, so the union now is working to recall two school board members, who are trying to be fiscally responsible.”
• “After talking to all parties, this imbroglio seems to us to be more about political power than job performance issues with the current board…”
• “The latest recall seems like an unnecessary assault on a board that is working for reform.”
• Union Leaders Are Now Backing a November Ballot Initiative to Take Away 6 of 7 Votes from Every Voter!
The union is backing a ballot measure that would take away from every voter 6 of their 7 votes – this measure will be on the November 2010 general election ballot. The union-backed ballot initiative to change the way school board members are elected is really nothing more than an effort by the union to increase their influence so they can "buy" individual school board seats and reassert the undue influence they exercised over the school district for years before voters elected the seven reform trustees by landslide margins.
LOOK: Photo of union protestors seeking to take 6 of 7 votes away from every voter in CUSD
READ the OC Register Story
In unguarded moments, even Union Boss Vicki Soderberg admits that further increases to class sizes will hurt out students and teachers:
"Overcrowded classrooms ... negatively impact the quality of education in CUSD as well as the teachers who teach."
-- Union President Vicki Soderberg, CUSD Board meeting, October 15, 2007.
These actions demonstrate greedy union bosses are the real problem in our school district. Next time you hear that tired old union baloney about the unions wanting to put “Kids First,” remember what Albert Shanker, former American Federation of Teachers president, once said:
“When school kids start paying union dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the interests of school children.”
- Albert Shanker, former AFT President
They obviously don't care for the students, families and taxpayers of CUSD, not to mention the hundreds of younger teachers who would have lost their jobs if the Board had accepted the union’s contract proposal (while older, tenured teachers would preserve their fat taxpayer-funded paychecks).
It is sad and ironic the only organization that isn't applauding the Reform Board for saving teachers' jobs...is their own union!
Yes, Your Elected Reform Trustees Are Fighting To Protect The Children And Taxpayers Of CUSD!!!
• They approved new and sustainable union contract terms.
READ the OC Register Story
• They successfully protected dozens of teachers' jobs and did NOT increase class sizes!
READ the Reform Board’s Open Letter to the Community explaining why class sizes must not be increased and teachers' jobs must be protected
• They want to change the misplaced priorities of the past!
Class Sizes Must Not Be Increased.
READ “Class Size: How Large is Too Large” which documents:
• Small class sizes are key to improving student learning
• California has the largest class sizes in the country
• CUSD class sizes have been increased four times since 1999
• CUSD class sizes in grades K-8 are currently at the maximum allowed by law, without a state waiver
• CUSD class sizes are larger than the California statewide average in all grades
CUSD Teachers Are Already Highly Paid.
READ CUSD Teacher total compensation is already among the highest compared to other Orange County School Districts
READ CUSD Teachers have already received 32.5% PAY INCREASES over the past 10 years
READ Over the past 15 years, CUSD Teachers have received aggregate PAY INCREASES OF 54.5% -- and these increases do not even include step and column increases, which cost the school district approximately 3% per year, or the substantial costs of health benefits!
What Can You Do To Help?
Over the past three consecutive elections, voters elected by landslide margins the seven Reform Board members to bring positive change and reform to our school district.
Powerful Union Bosses who directly profit from CUSD’s multi-million dollar budget are continuing their efforts to frustrate and rollback the reforms our elected Board members are striving to implement – they are backing a ballot initiative to take away 6 of 7 votes from every voter, attempting to recall two of our Reform Trustees – and now they are threatening to strike!
These powerful Union Bosses simply don’t want to reform our school district -- and in so doing, they are disrespecting and disregarding the will of the electorate. Now is the time for all constituents in CUSD to honor the will of the electorate, to support the seven Reform Trustees of this school board, and to work together to make CUSD the best school district in California.
We need more common sense – NOT unsustainable salaries, benefits and retirements for the unions!
A line in the sand has been drawn -- and you MUST decide on which side you will stand.
Your kids, our kids, want you to stand on their side.
The choice is yours…
1. Support Our Students.
If you are asked by a union supporter to keep your children at home from school to protest in "support of teachers" -- "JUST SAY NO" to this despicable and illegal protest and send your children to school where they belong. Don't let powerful union leaders use your child as a political pawn!
2. Support Our Reform Board Members.
Tell the Reform Board Members that the new union contract, which saved dozens of teachers' jobs and did NOT further increase class sizes, was in the best interests of our school district. Email the Reform Board Members at:
Ellen Addonizio - eaddonizio@capousd.org
Jack Brick - jbrick@capousd.org
Anna Bryson - anna@annabryson.com
Larry Christensen - ljchristensen@capousd.org
Ken Lopez-Maddox - kmaddox@capousd.org
Sue Palazzo - spalazzo@capousd.org
Mike Winsten - mwinsten@capousd.org
3. Urge Union Boss Vicki Soderberg Not To Strike.
The union will vote on April 15th whether to strike. Tell her you do NOT support the threatened union strike. Call, fax or email Union Boss Soderberg at:
(949) 900-2280 Ext. 203
(949) 900-2284 Fax
vsoderberg@cuea.org
4. Learn More at: www.CUSDrecall.com
• California Public School Teachers Are the Highest Paid In the Nation!
• CUSD teachers have received 54.5% aggregate pay increases over the past 15 years!
• 88% of our school district's massive annual budget is spent on salaries, benefits and retirement for the public employees!
So, Who Is Looking Out For The Children And Taxpayers Of CUSD?
It’s not the union leaders...
Last week, your Reform Board members kept their promise to voters by approving new union contract terms, which did NOT increase class size and preserved dozens of teachers' jobs! Sadly, this has upset union leaders:
• Union Leaders Are Now Threatening to Strike in the Middle of the School Year!
READ the OC Register Story
Union Members have even used our children as political pawns by encouraging students to walk out of class in protest. Union supporters are currently attempting to organize an illegal student walkout on April 13th. This is despicable!
READ the OC Register Story
READ the OC Register Story
• Union Leaders Are Now Backing an Unjust Campaign to Recall Two of Your Reform Board Members -- Which Could Drain $800,000 from Our Classrooms!
READ the great OC Register Editorial Opposing this unjust recall effort, which stated:
• “To make matters even more interesting, the teachers union – which has been in bitter contract negotiations with the school board – is supporting the recall.”
• “It also seems though that the tension with the school board and the union also comes down to money.”
• “The trustees elected in 2008 have been in office a little over one year of a four-year term, a period of tough economic times. The board cut administration and staff salaries by about 10 percent to balance a prior budget. Now, the board faces $25 million in budget cuts for the next budget cycle. To do that the board is calling on teachers to take a 10 percent pay cut, which may help explain why the union backs the current recall…”
• “The union does not want teachers to endure a 10 percent pay cut, demanding the district instead tap its reserve fund to make up the difference. The union already called on teachers to "work to the contract," a strategy where teachers don't use any of their "personal time" out of school to grade papers, return parent phone calls, etc. That tactic did not deter the board, so the union now is working to recall two school board members, who are trying to be fiscally responsible.”
• “After talking to all parties, this imbroglio seems to us to be more about political power than job performance issues with the current board…”
• “The latest recall seems like an unnecessary assault on a board that is working for reform.”
• Union Leaders Are Now Backing a November Ballot Initiative to Take Away 6 of 7 Votes from Every Voter!
The union is backing a ballot measure that would take away from every voter 6 of their 7 votes – this measure will be on the November 2010 general election ballot. The union-backed ballot initiative to change the way school board members are elected is really nothing more than an effort by the union to increase their influence so they can "buy" individual school board seats and reassert the undue influence they exercised over the school district for years before voters elected the seven reform trustees by landslide margins.
LOOK: Photo of union protestors seeking to take 6 of 7 votes away from every voter in CUSD
READ the OC Register Story
In unguarded moments, even Union Boss Vicki Soderberg admits that further increases to class sizes will hurt out students and teachers:
"Overcrowded classrooms ... negatively impact the quality of education in CUSD as well as the teachers who teach."
-- Union President Vicki Soderberg, CUSD Board meeting, October 15, 2007.
These actions demonstrate greedy union bosses are the real problem in our school district. Next time you hear that tired old union baloney about the unions wanting to put “Kids First,” remember what Albert Shanker, former American Federation of Teachers president, once said:
“When school kids start paying union dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the interests of school children.”
- Albert Shanker, former AFT President
They obviously don't care for the students, families and taxpayers of CUSD, not to mention the hundreds of younger teachers who would have lost their jobs if the Board had accepted the union’s contract proposal (while older, tenured teachers would preserve their fat taxpayer-funded paychecks).
It is sad and ironic the only organization that isn't applauding the Reform Board for saving teachers' jobs...is their own union!
Yes, Your Elected Reform Trustees Are Fighting To Protect The Children And Taxpayers Of CUSD!!!
• They approved new and sustainable union contract terms.
READ the OC Register Story
• They successfully protected dozens of teachers' jobs and did NOT increase class sizes!
READ the Reform Board’s Open Letter to the Community explaining why class sizes must not be increased and teachers' jobs must be protected
• They want to change the misplaced priorities of the past!
Class Sizes Must Not Be Increased.
READ “Class Size: How Large is Too Large” which documents:
• Small class sizes are key to improving student learning
• California has the largest class sizes in the country
• CUSD class sizes have been increased four times since 1999
• CUSD class sizes in grades K-8 are currently at the maximum allowed by law, without a state waiver
• CUSD class sizes are larger than the California statewide average in all grades
CUSD Teachers Are Already Highly Paid.
READ CUSD Teacher total compensation is already among the highest compared to other Orange County School Districts
READ CUSD Teachers have already received 32.5% PAY INCREASES over the past 10 years
READ Over the past 15 years, CUSD Teachers have received aggregate PAY INCREASES OF 54.5% -- and these increases do not even include step and column increases, which cost the school district approximately 3% per year, or the substantial costs of health benefits!
What Can You Do To Help?
Over the past three consecutive elections, voters elected by landslide margins the seven Reform Board members to bring positive change and reform to our school district.
Powerful Union Bosses who directly profit from CUSD’s multi-million dollar budget are continuing their efforts to frustrate and rollback the reforms our elected Board members are striving to implement – they are backing a ballot initiative to take away 6 of 7 votes from every voter, attempting to recall two of our Reform Trustees – and now they are threatening to strike!
These powerful Union Bosses simply don’t want to reform our school district -- and in so doing, they are disrespecting and disregarding the will of the electorate. Now is the time for all constituents in CUSD to honor the will of the electorate, to support the seven Reform Trustees of this school board, and to work together to make CUSD the best school district in California.
We need more common sense – NOT unsustainable salaries, benefits and retirements for the unions!
A line in the sand has been drawn -- and you MUST decide on which side you will stand.
Your kids, our kids, want you to stand on their side.
The choice is yours…
1. Support Our Students.
If you are asked by a union supporter to keep your children at home from school to protest in "support of teachers" -- "JUST SAY NO" to this despicable and illegal protest and send your children to school where they belong. Don't let powerful union leaders use your child as a political pawn!
2. Support Our Reform Board Members.
Tell the Reform Board Members that the new union contract, which saved dozens of teachers' jobs and did NOT further increase class sizes, was in the best interests of our school district. Email the Reform Board Members at:
Ellen Addonizio - eaddonizio@capousd.org
Jack Brick - jbrick@capousd.org
Anna Bryson - anna@annabryson.com
Larry Christensen - ljchristensen@capousd.org
Ken Lopez-Maddox - kmaddox@capousd.org
Sue Palazzo - spalazzo@capousd.org
Mike Winsten - mwinsten@capousd.org
3. Urge Union Boss Vicki Soderberg Not To Strike.
The union will vote on April 15th whether to strike. Tell her you do NOT support the threatened union strike. Call, fax or email Union Boss Soderberg at:
(949) 900-2280 Ext. 203
(949) 900-2284 Fax
vsoderberg@cuea.org
4. Learn More at: www.CUSDrecall.com