San Mateo Union High School District Teachers' Association

September 14, 2006

Dear Parents:

The District's administration, without proper consultation with our organization, has decided to fire new teachers in an attempt to balance its budget. The administration has also asked teachers to take a 3% reduction in salary and to pay more for our medical, dental, and vision insurance. The District has also proposed numerous other cuts in the budget that will damage our academic programs.

Our organization remains unconvinced that such drastic cuts to the academic program are necessary. The District has failed to provide us with sufficient financial information and rationale to justify these cuts. Furthermore, it has actually taken actions over the past few months to increase the size of the deficit.

As you may know, since last spring our organization has been engaged in negotiations with the District over a new contract for the teachers' unit. The District has taken the position that it will not negotiate over financial items until next spring. We believe this to be unfair and a violation of the state laws that govern such negotiations.

Our organization stands ready to help the District resolve its financial problems. However, we will resist having solutions imposed on the teachers, especially those that will damage the quality of our academic program. The layoff of new teachers and a significant reduction in teachers' pay will damage the future of our high schools and our ability to recruit and retain highly qualified new teachers.

Layoffs of new teachers should be the last cut to consider, only after all other economies have been found.

Furthermore, the District has known for more than a year about its growing financial plight. It should have implemented a recovery plan last spring to balance its budget, rather than hiring new teachers this summer only to terminate their contracts this month.

It is now time for District to be held accountable for their actions, or inability to contend with this problem in a responsible, creative, and timely manner.

Given this situation and the refusal of the District administration to negotiate fairly, our organization has no option but to advise its members to begin discussing the need for teachers and other certificated personnel to abstain from participating in voluntary, non-essential duties, especially those during lunch and after school.

We begin this process reluctantly, and ask that you join us in working to preserve the integrity of our academic programs for your children. Personally, I think that teachers and parents have a common interest in a high quality educational program and a District with a balanced budget. We encourage you to join us at the next meeting of the Board of Trustees on Thursday, September 21 at 6:00 PM and Thursday, September 28 at 7:00 PM to engage in a dialogue about the District's priorities.

Together we can save our high quality academic program and, at the same time, take prudent actions to restore fiscal responsibility within the District.

Sincerely,

Craig Childress
SMUHSDTA President

– Written by JC