• Teacher's Local Salary Supplement
• Extra duty stipend scale
• Negotiations
• Membership
• Wavelengths - September 18, 2007

October 22, 2006 - Teaching Links

Just added Teaching Links (www.capehenlopenea.org/links/teaching_links)  Please suggest new links or report broken links (bmorris@cape.k12.de.us)!

Present at the meeting were Superintendent Dr. Stone, Director of Business Operations Dr. Seibert, Assistant Superintendent Janis Hanwell, and Director, Accountability & School Improvement Bob Fulton for the district and for the Associations DSEA UniServ Director Charlie Shaffer, CHEA President Sarah Ross, CHEA Vice President John Dean, CHEA Treasurer Sydnye Andrews, CHSSA Vice President Ed Murauskas, CHSSA Treasurer Mary Beth D'Amico and CHSSA Negotiations Chair and past president Peggy Kirby.

Sarah had asked for a host of financial information, the bulk of which Dr. Seibert expected to have for the meeting, but, unfortunately was not compiled in time. He did provide copies of the preliminary budget which was passed at the 9/28/06 board meeting and of the Final Budget for FY2006. He also provided analyses of "Net Assessed Valuations - Cape Henlopen School District" from 1989 through 2006 and "Division III Equalization Funding Trend Analysis FY02 - FY07." He has promised to forward additional financial information to Sarah which she will share with DSEA and CHSSA, including revenue and expenses for full-day kindergarten. Dr. Seibert did also explain the huge increase (over $500,000) in the FY07 preliminary budget line for paraeducator salaries. Apparently last year the district used Title I and additional other federal funding including prior years' funds to reduce last year's amount.

Dr. Stone provided copies of the district's "Draft Process for Reducing Personnel Budget." (Below) This is the procedure the district plans to use if RIF's become necessary. The Associations supported Dr. Seibert's offer to conduct "retirement workshops" for all interested employees. He said some employees may find they would make more money if they retire than if they continue to work. The Associations suggested and the district agreed to provide updated RIF lists at about the same time as any retirement/resignation incentive offer. Since there have been many hires and some retirements and resignations, the current RIF list (dated 3/27/06) really is not accurate. Additionally, the administrators present agreed that IF RIF notices must be delivered, those deliveries will be done in person at the end of the school day - not during the day as has happened in the past.

Dr. Stone and Ms. Hanwell also cleared up some rumors regarding administrative salaries. Administrators received a 4% raise - not 8% as some have reported. There was also no administrative salary "bump" due to the hiring of the new high school principal, as had been reported in the newspapers.

Some dates for resuming CHSSA's negotiations were proffered; the negotiations committee will be notified as soon as agreement is reached.
 

September 14, 2006

Both CHSSA and CHEA were well represented at the Cape Board meeting tonight to hear the district's budget presentation, including DSEA Vice President Diane Donohue and our UniServ Director, Charlie Shaffer. Dr. Seibert and Dr. Stone want the public to know the district is solvent right now. But in order to prevent future difficulties, the budget must be reduced. The "painful" cuts to which Dr. Stone and others have been referring in the media recently will affect our members who are paid on local funds. The good news right now is that the district does not expect to eliminate any positions this year. However, about 33 paraprofessionals and 22 professionals are paid on local funds and district administrators say the district budget can no longer bear this expense for school year 07-08. Dr. Stone said he would like to see the reductions come from attrition and retirements; he even suggested creating some kind of financial retirement incentive over and above what is already offered. Is eliminating 55 people who work directly with students what's best for Cape kids? Asked by a radio reporter for his reaction, Charlie Shaffer said, "This is only one blueprint. The associations will study this picture and see what can be done to best serve the interests of students."

Representatives from both associations will meet with Dr. Stone to discuss the budget on October 3. We also hope to have dates for continuing negotiations at that time.