|
News & Features
From the Idyllwild Town Crier weekly newspaper, 02.04.10 edition.
HUSD asks for 7 percent
By J.P. Crumrine, Editor
The
Hemet Unified School District (HUSD) has a projected fiscal 2010-11
(from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011) budget deficit of about $19.7
million. Last week, HUSD negotiators said a 7-percent salary reduction
across the board would reduce the deficit more than half.
“For teachers that amounts to about $5.8 million,” said Jerry Hall,
president of the Hemet Teachers Association (HTA).
District Superintendent Dr. Phil Pendley’s communication also makes
clear that whatever the employees give up, the district’s management
will top it. For example, if employees agree to a 7-percent salary
reduction, management will lose 8 percent. Management will accept one
more furlough day than employees. Pendley has already volunteered a
five-day reduction and his cabinet members are taking three-day
reductions.
On its Tuesday, Feb. 2, meeting, the board of trustees received
Pendley’s recommendations for non-personnel savings or reductions.
These total about $10 million.
Before adjusting salaries or imposing furlough days, HTA wants to be
confident the district has done everything possible to avoid affecting
employees’ income or jobs.
For example, rather than simply expanding the walking boundary around
schools, HTA would prefer to see the board address the overall start
time policy.
This has been on the list of possible reductions for the past two years
and the board has rejected it each year. Changing the schools’ start
time has been very unpopular among Idyllwild parents both years.
In addition, HTA has questioned whether funds for athletic programs
could be found from other sources such as fund-raising or ticket sales
rather than subsidized from HUSD’s general funds.
Despite these and other differences, Hall acknowledged that HUSD and
the employees’ organization are much more cooperative than are
neighboring districts.
“Sooner or later, we come to an agreement,” he predicted. “I have no
doubt it will include some combination of these options.”
J.P. Crumrine can
be reached at jp@towncrier.com.
Web Site designed by the Idyllwild
Town Crier © 1995-2007 by Idyllwild Publications
WEBMASTER
|
