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By Rachel Kytonen
rachel.kytonen@ecm-inc.com
The Education Minnesota Cambridge Isanti (EMCI) teachers union has filed an unfair labor practice lawsuit against District 911.
The suit was made public during a negotiations update presented by Board Member Dan Fosse, who also serves as lead negotiator, during the board’s regular meeting Thursday, Nov. 19.
However, further details and positions on the lawsuit, claiming the district violated the teachers’ current contract, are not being divulged at this time as meetings are ongoing between the groups involved.
Fosse, who later presented impacts of the failed levy before the school board, provided a time line on negotiation talks, which began June 3, between the district and EMCI. Several subsequent meetings have been held since that date.
Both parties agreed to the Interest Based Collective Bargaining (IBCB) negotiation meeting format in addition to using a mediator from the Bureau of Mediation with the understanding either party could opt out and resume traditional bargaining.
The district presented EMCI with a formal proposal on Sept. 21. EMCI presented a counter proposal on Nov. 11, and the district presented a counter proposal also on that same date.
The district exercised its option to end the IBCB meeting format and also filed for traditional bargaining mediation at the Oct. 1 meeting.
EMCI then filed the unfair labor practice lawsuit against the district on Nov. 17. In response, the district canceled the scheduled mediation meeting Nov. 18.
Financial impacts
In light of the failed levy referendum on Nov. 3, Fosse said the financial impact has increased the stakes and importance of current negotiations for all stakeholders: District 911, employees, taxpayers and most importantly, students.
Fosse explained each negotiation team, designated for each union group, has consistently delivered the school board’s position and goal in the current round of negotiations to not cut any more staff or make further reductions in programs.
This was done by asking all employees and unions to consider and accept wage and benefit freezes to help maneuver through the financial challenges the district faces.
As of date, the superintendent, district administrative team and instructional assistants union groups have agreed to wage and benefit freeze requests at the fiscal year 2008-09 amounts.
Negotiations are critical, Fosse said, because expenditures in the district will increase at a significantly higher rate than revenue will increase.
Fosse said the district will experience a net reduction of approximately $250,000 of revenue from the state of Minnesota in fiscal year 2009-10 and another loss of about $900,000 ($600,000 of local levy and $300,000 of equalized state aid revenue) in fiscal year 2010-11.
In addition, Fosse said, the state has not budgeted any increase in general revenue for fiscal years 2009-10 and 2010-11.
Fosse said the state of Minnesota has also shifted the payment of revenue to school districts in fiscal year 2009-10 from 90 percent to 73 percent in the current fiscal year. This change represents a payment deferment from the state in 2009-10 to the district of $10,988,614 (27 percent) versus $4,069,857 (10 percent).
“This shift will significantly affect District 911 cash flow and will require the use of existing cash balance and extensive borrowing,” Fosse said. “I want the board to be aware that even small percentages will translate into very large amounts of money.
“Negotiations with all employees and union groups is especially important when you consider District 911 is a people intensive organization and that $38,880,572 or 78 percent of all expenditures totaling $50,309,137—not including construction, debt service and student activity accounts in fiscal year 2008-09—were either directly or indirectly related to wages and benefits,” he added.
Custodians union
Contract negotiations with the custodian’s unions opened on Nov. 17, and initial discussion included identifying specific issues the custodians would like to discuss. The district reaffirmed its position asking the group to consider and accept wage and benefit freezes. More meetings are scheduled in December.
Administrative assistants, food service
There isn’t any meeting scheduled yet to open negotiations with the administrative assistants union. An initial meeting is scheduled for Nov. 30 to open negotiations with food service.
Bus drivers
Contract negotiations with the bus drivers opened on Oct. 6. The bus driver group presented issues that need resolution and some requests to clarify current contract language, and the district reaffirmed its position in asking for wage and benefit freezes. Both parties agreed to review a draft of a reorganized contract that would include the items discussed. The district is preparing the draft and the next meeting will be scheduled once it’s completed.
Principals Association
Contract negotiations with the district and principals’ association opened on Nov. 20. The discussion included financial restraints, medical and dental insurance benefits and clarification of the district’s position regarding wage and benefit freezes.
The district asked the principal’s association if it would consider the contract format recently implemented with the superintendent and district administration. The principal association agreed, and the alternate contract was reviewed and discussed Nov. 10.
Both parties agreed the association should have time to discuss the merits of the alternative contract with all principals. No additional meetings have been scheduled.
In other action, the board:
• Accepted $4,283.50 in donations, including $1,780 through a test drive fundraiser from Hayford Ford for the high school student council and $1,500 from the Isanti County Sportsman’s Club for the Cambridge Middle School’s Long Lake Conservation Camp student trip.
• Approved revised seniority lists fro the food service, paraprofessional, custodial and instructional assistants union groups effective Dec. 1.
• Approved a resolution relating to the expulsion of a student for one year beginning Nov. 11.
• Granted approval for students to attend the Model United Nations Conference at the University of Michigan Jan. 13-18 and University of Chicago Feb. 3-7.
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