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Published on 05/08/1996 All articles from this issue

FUHSD teachers remain stalled with district board, appeal

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By Kristina Allen

Town Crier Staff Report

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Despite many attempts to negotiate an acceptable contract, theFremont Union High School District (FUHSD) teachers and the boardof trustees have yet to come to an agreement as of their May 1meeting.

Almost 80 percent of the district's 391 teachers voted "noconfidence" in FUHSD Mary Panucci due to "lack of leadershipthus far in the negotiation process," according to the FremontEducation Association (FEA) president George Gredassoff. Gredassoffpresented the signatures of 298 teachers that have announced alack of confidence in Panucci at an April 30 meeting of the FUHSDBoard of Trustees.

"Our teachers are saddened that we have come to this pointand time where it is necessary to speak out publicly against theFUHSD leadership, but the district has left them no choice,"Gredassoff said.

The teachers had called a special meeting of parents and communityleaders for their support in ending this four-month stalemateover 1996 contract negotiations. The teachers said they took theunusual step of appealing directly to the community after offering11 counter proposals to the districts initial proposal with littleresponse and no resolution.

Parents, residents and teachers have charged the board with unnecessarilyhoarding nearly $9 million in reserves while refusing to adequatelycompensate teachers, Gredassoff said.

Meanwhile, parents and residents announced the formation of anindependent watch-dog group to monitor the Board of Trustees andthe educational process in FUHSD. The group was formed duringthe community meeting last week when a resident expressed concernover the lack of openness by the board of trustees on budget issues.Approximately 100 parents have signed up for the committee.

The current bargaining agreement with the teachers union expireson August 22.

"We (the district) feel this is a negotiation strategy onthe teachers part," said Bebe Sellers, assistant superintendentfor employer and employee relations. "We are not in the habitof bashing our teachers because we think very highly of them."

According to district information, the board has obligated itsreserves, except as restricted by law and restricted for negotiatedliabilities, over the next three to four years to pay for theproposed increases in employee compensation.

Continuing discussion on the contract will take place at thenext board meeting at 7:30 p.m. on May 21.

For more information, call (408) 522-2200

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