School employees oppose bond (Burlingame Daily News)

Fed up with layoffs, the union that represents accountants, bus drivers, custodians and other support staff is opposing the November bond measure for its own school district. The chapter of the California School Employees Association that represents San Mateo Union High School District employees decided at a meeting last week to begin making bumper stickers and T-shirts urging voters not to pass Measure M, union representatives said Tuesday night. The proposed $298 million school bond would upgrade classrooms, theaters, and other facilities.

The union's stance comes in response to $3.5 million in budget cuts the district passed this fall, which mean that about 12 teachers and more than 40 non-teaching staff members will likely be laid off Nov. 17. The cuts came in part because of repeated shortfalls in revenue from county property taxes, for which the district did not plan. "Measure M is not about the kids, it's for buildings," said Dwight Dunn, a school bus driver and member of the union's negotiating team. "If they can't afford to staff it, and they can't afford to keep the lights on, what do we need the new building for?" While the teacher layoffs have gotten the most attention, the staff cuts also will have serious effects, union leaders said. "Any time there are layoffs of this size and shape it's going to be a morale issue," said Dunn, adding that, "Without us, there is much more burden on the teachers. These are things the general public doesn't see." The largest cuts to any single position will be for custodians – 11 full-time positions are on the chopping block. "These schools aren't exactly spotless now," Dunn said. "Think how much dirtier they're going to get." At Capuchino High School, losing their office assistant will be a blow, financial assistant and union vice president Lucy Cerecedes said. "She greets people, she speaks Spanish, she does the overflow that nobody has time to do," Cerecedes said.

Labor relations representative Earl Everett said the union is encouraging employees to make sure to take the breaks and lunches that are called for in their contract. He said staff members, like teachers, regularly go beyond expectations to help students. "The school employees are not there for the money, they're there for the kids," Everett said. "Last time there were cuts, they picked up the slack so the district didn't feel the need, and so the district said, 'Hey look, it's all working fine.'" The union's negotiations with the district are ongoing as the sides hash out the nature of the cuts and work to renew their contract. The union can't stop layoffs, but Everett said it is battling for seniority rights. Teachers' association representatives could not be reached late Tuesday night for comment on whether they would support or oppose Measure M. The teachers' union is also in contract negotiations.

Correction (Thursday) from the Daily News

In Tuesday's Daily News front page article, "Unions oppose special school board election," the number of required petition signatures was not correctly stated. Blanco would have needed 300 signatures to carry the petition forward. The Daily News regrets the error.

– Written by Fiona