GreatSchools.net: School Board Notes 10/11/05

School Board Notes 10/11/05
By Nicole Freeling
GreatSchools.net Correspondent

• Teachers' union calls for contract, voices solidarity with SEIU
• Board joins union in asking mayor for help
• Policy adopted to thwart military recruitment

As the district faces the looming possibility of a strike by its so-called classified employees, labor woes took center stage Tuesday, with fed-up district employees filling the sidewalk before the meeting to voice their grievances.

Teachers' union calls for contract, voices solidarity with SEIU

Demonstrators packed the sidewalk out in front of the district for an hour before the meeting, chanting, waving placards and handing out fliers arguing their case for action against the district. Joining representatives of Service Employees International Union Local 790, which is in the throes of a contract impasse with the district, were members of United Educators of San Francisco, which held its own demonstration to call for action on signing a contract. Speaking to the board at the meeting, UESF President Dennis Kelly told members, "You understand a potential strike is not just about SEIU but about UESF and (other unions) as well. ... We have not received any kind of a raise since 2002, and that makes people desperate. Desperate people do desperate things."

UESF has written a resolution indicating support for SEIU should it strike but, according to Kelly, the union is "staying away from an absolute commitment (advising teachers) to cross or not to cross a picket line." Kelly declined to comment on whether the union was considering calling for its own strike. Executive Director of Labor Relations Tom Ruiz said the district is prepared to "do whatever it takes to keep the schools open," in the event of a strike, including hiring substitutes to fill in for teachers.

Board Joins Union in Asking Mayor For Help

Meanwhile, in an attempt to avoid a strike, the board agreed it would seek the help of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and his staff in trying to help resolve the dispute. Board members agree a strike would be disastrous for the district. Members of Parents for Public Schools appeared at the meeting to entreat the district to do everything in its power to avoid such a scenario.

"We are asking Newsom and his staff to become involved in the conflict," Board President Eric Mar said. "It is not being defined as mediation. It is not a formal process, but we are welcoming the Mayor's input to help us avert a strike."

Representatives of Local 790 had called a week ago on Newsom to intervene, but the district said the mayor's involvement was unnecessary as proposals were still on the table. Talks fell apart, however, after union negotiators rejected two offers proposed by the district, one which would offer a four percent raise over two years, and one which would provide a two percent raise and greater dependent healthcare coverage. The union has called for both a four percent raise and increased dependent coverage.

Policy adopted to thwart military recruitment

Infuriated by No Child Left Behind provisions regarding the release of student contact information to military recruiters, the board unanimously approved a resolution to make it easier for students to request that such information not be shared.

Students are allowed to keep their information private if they sign an "opt-out" form. If a student opts out, however, his or her name cannot be released to organizations seeking to publicize jobs or scholarships either.

Parents have appeared frequently before the board to complain they have not received information either of their child's ability to opt or of the fact that their child's name will automatically be given to military recruiters if they do not do so. Between 30 to 40 percent of students in the district have no opt in/opt out card on file. Of those who have returned a card, 90 percent have chosen to opt out.

The new policy aims to ensure that all students file an opt in/opt out card. It establishes that the cards will be distributed in homeroom or equivalent classes at all high schools in the first weeks of the fall semester and be filled out and returned on the same day. If either the parent or student signs the opt out choice, or if their are conflicting cards on file (a child opts in but a parent opts out, for example), the opt out will prevail. "We all agree we want kids to opt out and we'll do what it takes to do that," board member Mark Sanchez said.

The resolution also states that students will not need to resubmit the documents for subsequent school years unless their wishes have changed. Board member Jill Wynns said she would like to see some training for principals and other staff to make sure they do "only exactly what they law requires." Military recruiters are entitled to participate in career and recruitment fairs. "That's not hanging out in the lunchrooms, its not following students around." While she said she believed such instances were rare in San Francisco, such aggressive recruitment has happened at schools elsewhere.