[1. Meeting Opening]
[00:00:24]
>>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[2. Public Comment]
>> WELCOME. WE WILL MOVE FIRST TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. I HAVE POSTED AGENDA ITEMS. WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, EACH WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES AT THE PARTY. - -
PODIUM. >>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A LOCAL TAXPAYER AND I AM GLAD THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD STOPPED LETTING THE UNION STOP TREATING TAXPAYERS AS THEIR PERSONAL BANK. UNIONS CONTINUE TO ASK THE PUBLIC TO FUND TEACHER RAISES WITHOUT ANY DIRECT PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE IN THE CLASSROOM. OUTSIDE OF EDUCATION, WORKING TAXPAYERS ARE EVALUATED INDIVIDUALLY EACH YEAR AND THEIR RACES ARE DEPENDENT ON PERFORMANCE. I'M ALSO PLEASED TO SEE THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS THE ABILITY TO HIRE TEACHERS AND PAY THEM ABOVE AN ARBITRARY SENIORITY SCALE IF THEY HAVE SPECIAL SKILLS. THIS ALLOWS US TO COMPETE FOR TEACHERS WHO ARE NEEDED TO KEEP US AT THE FOREFRONT IN PREPARING STUDENTS FOR FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPING NOW. THESE THINGS ARE POSSIBLE BECAUSE A CONSERVATIVE BOARD VOTED TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL SUPERINTENDENT AND SUPPORT HIM BY REMOVING DECISIVE IDEOLOGIES. THEN HE BACKED THE SUPERINTENDENT ENFORCING SCHOOL DISCIPLINE THAT HAS ELIMINATED THE VIOLENCE THAT HAD GROWN UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. IT IS MY HOPE THE VOTERS WILL REMEMBER WHAT CAME BEFORE THIS ADMINISTRATION AND ELECT CONSERVATIVE BOARD MEMBERS THAT WILL SUPPORT THE SUPERINTENDENT. THE BOARD SHOULD SUPPORT THE CONTRACT AS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR HSE. THANK YOU.
>>> WE WILL MOVE ON. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON THE RATIFICATION OF THE 25/26 CONTRACT. BEFORE I DO SO, I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLICLY THANK PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CRUCIAL TO THE PROCESS. I HAVE LEARNED QUITE A BIT THUS FAR IN THE TENURE AS THE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT CONTINUES TO BECOME MORE CONCRETE IS THAT I HAVE MADE THIS CHECK - - I AM MADE BETTER BY THE TEAM AROUND ME. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR WORK, THEIR TIME AND STRESS AND DEDICATION TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR TEACHERS IN THIS DISTRICT. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE BARGAINING TEAM , THIS IS OUR FOURTH BARGAINING CYCLE TOGETHER IN THE TRUST WE HAVE BUILT HAS STRENGTHENED NOT ONLY OUR WORK THAT RESOLVED TO ADVOCATE FIRMLY AND COLLECTIVELY. I WANT TO THANK THE 1300 BARGAINING UNIT MEMBERS WHO STOOD WITH THE TEAM AND EACH OTHER THROUGH THIS PROCESS. FINALLY I WANT TO THANK THE HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN SCHOOLS PARENTS, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY. YOUR SUPPORT FOR YOUR TEACHERS IS ADMIRABLE AND REMARKABLE THAT HELP TO SHOW US THAT STANDING UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. ALBUS DUMBLEDORE TOLD US THAT DARK TIMES LIE AHEAD THAT SOON WE MUST ALSO FACE THE CHOICE BETWEEN WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS EASY. WHICH LEADS US TO THE RATIFICATION OF THE CONTRACT. WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY IS NOT EASY BUT THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE BOARD VOTE YES TO RATIFY THE 25/26 CONTRACT, KNOWING IF IT DOES NOT PASS IT WILL ALREADY MAKE IT DIFFICULT SITUATION WORSE FOR THE BARGAINING UNIT MEMBERS. FOR THOSE OF YOU ON THE BOARD WHO I HAVE MET WITH INDIVIDUALLY OR OTHERWISE, EACH
[00:05:03]
OF YOU HAVE ASKED ME WHAT TYPE OF LEADER I WANT TO BE, THE ANSWER HAS BEEN THE SAME. I WANT TO BE SOMEONE WITH INTEGRITY.SOMEONE THOSE CAN RELY MY LEADERSHIP AND TRUST. I AM ASKING YOU ALL BE MODELS OF THAT INTEGRITY AND TRUST. THERE ARE 1300 PEOPLE AND AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY WHO ARE LOOKING AT YOU
TO DO SO. THANK YOU. >>> NEXT.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM A PARENT, FORMER TEACHER AND FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. LAST WEEK I SPOKE TO YOU ALL AT THE PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE TEACHER CONTRACT. AS IS THE CASE, THOSE PRESENT LISTENED BUT DID NOT COMMENT OR ADDRESS MY CONCERNS. LATER IN THE MEETING, BOARD MEMBER DAWN LANG ADDRESS SOME OF MY CONTRACTS REMINDING ME THE JOB OF THE BOARD IS HARD AND THE BOARD HAS A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND IS NOT IMMUNE TO RISING COSTS AND WE CANNOT USE THE RAINY DAY FUND. SHE NEVER ADDRESSED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT DID NOT MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO CUT THE BUDGET ELSEWHERE SO TEACHER SALARIES AND BENEFITS COULD BE MADE WHOLE. IT IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO PRIORITIZE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE PAID AND TEACHER SALARY AND BENEFITS SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. I HAVE HEARD NO DISCUSSION OF HOW TO CUT ONE HALF OF 1% IN OUR BUDGET SO TEACHERS WOULD NOT HAVE TO TAKE A REDUCTION IN THEIR TAKE-HOME PAY. HERE IS A LIST OF IDEAS I CAME UP WITH THAT COULD SAVE THE DISTRICT AND WOULD NOT AFFECT CLASSROOM TEACHERS OR CLASS SIZE. RENEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY FOR GROUNDS MAINTENANCE. THE CITY IS TRYING TO GIVE MONEY TO OUR TEACHERS IN THE FORM OF GRANTS. THE LAST CONTRACT I COULD FIND THE BOARD AGREED TO SHOWING WE ARE PAYING THEM ABOUT $41,000 PER MONTH. ASKING THEM FOR A DISCOUNT AS WE NAVIGATE A DEFICIT WOULD RESULT IN ABOUT $100,000 IN SAVINGS.
DROPPING THE CONTRACT WITH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING, SOMETHING THAT HSE HAS ALWAYS HANDLED IN HOUSE UNDER CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES. SINCE JUNE WE HAVE PAID THEM $77,000 AND EACH MONTH THEIR FEES HAVE INCREASED TO THEIR LATEST PAYMENT IN OCTOBER FOR 31,006 AND $25. I HAVE HEARD FROM BOTH TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS THE TIME THIS ORGANIZATION IS TAKING AWAY FROM THEIR DAY TO DAY DUTIES IS OVERWHELMING FOR SOME AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS NOT WORTH IT. ALL IN IT HAS COST $77 - - $77,000 FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH.
CUTTING SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS THAT WERE ADDED SINCE YOU ADDED THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT, THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT HAS A SALARY AND BENEFITS OF OVER $200,000. THE NUMBER OF TEACHER DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS HAVE DOUBLED WITH AN AVERAGE SALARY OF AROUND $90,000 NOT COUNTING BENEFITS, ELIMINATING HALF OF THEM WOULD BE A SAVINGS OF ONE $.3 MILLION.
- - ALL ARE CERTIFIED TEACHERS. THE 5% RETIREMENT MATCH THAT WE GIVE TO OUR TEACHERS, IF WE HAD THE SUPERINTENDENT HAVE A 5% RETIREMENT MATCH THAT WOULD BE A SAVINGS OF $50,000. HAVING SAT IN YOUR SEATS FOR EIGHT YEARS, I AGREE THE JOB IS NOT EASY BUT YOU ALL CAMPAIGNED TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE. YOU MUST MAKE THE SUPERINTENDENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR BALANCING THE BUDGET AND IT SHOULD NOT BE ON THE BACKS OF TEACHERS. GOING FORWARD I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THREE THINGS FROM ALL BOARD THIS. REDUCING THE BUDGET OUTSIDE OF TEACHER BENEFITS AND SALARIES. A GOOD START WOULD BE TO FORM A COMMITTEE. - - EXCUSE ME, INTEREST-BASED BARGAINING GOING FORWARD AND A COMMITMENT TO LOBBY YOUR FRIENDS AND LEGISLATORS TO FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND NOT PRIVATE AND CHARTER. THANK YOU.
[3. Action Items]
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO 3.01. TIM BROWN WILL PRESENT THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.
>> GOOD MORNING. NOTHING FORMAL TO RESENT, WE WENT OVER THE DETAILS OF THE LAST MEETINGS OF THE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IS READY FOR RATIFICATION FROM THE BOARD.
>> DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2025-26 COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT? >> MOTION TO APPROVE THE
AGREEMENT AS PRESENTED. >> SECOND.
[00:10:07]
>> COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD?
>> I JUST WANT TO CLEAR UP SOME MISINFORMATION THAT I SAW ONLINE THAT THE SALARY SCALE MAKES US THE HIGHEST PAYING DISTRICT IN THE COUNTY. IT MAY, IF THE TEACHER DOES NOT HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE OR HAS ONE TO THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BUT IT DEFINITELY DOES NOT IF THEY HAVE MORE THAN THAT SO THAT CONTINUES TO BE MY BIGGEST ISSUE WITH THE CONTRACT. I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR
THAT UP. >> IF I COULD JUST ASK A QUICK QUESTION TO CLARIFY THAT. AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND, THE SCALE IS A NEW HIRE SCALE HOWEVER, THERE IS FLEXIBILITY TO PAY ANY TEACHER UP TO 93,200 DOLLARS. IN THEORY, ANYONE JOINING OUR DISTRICT THAT
MAKE UP TO $93,200. >> FOR HARD TO FILL POSITIONS.
>> THAT IS NOT DEFINED, THAT COULD BE A MATH TEACHER, STUDENT TEACHER, ART TEACHER, LITERALLY ANYONE.
>> NOT LITERALLY ANYONE. HARD TO TELL.
>> ANY POSITION COULD BE CONSIDERED HARD TO TELL. I
WOULDN'T SAY ANY POSITION. >> THE POINT WE ARE MAKING HIS OTHER DISTRICTS OUTPACE US IN THOSE AREAS. IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO BE COMPETITIVE, ANY POSITION
WOULD BE HARD TO FILL. >> THAT IS NOT THE INTENTION OF THE LANGUAGE I THINK IT IS FOR HARD TO FILL POSITIONS.
>> SUZANNE, WAIT. >> SOMEONE IS SPEAKING.
>> YES, WE NEED TO RATIFY THE CONTRACT. THIS SHOULD HAVE NOT COME TO THIS LEVEL. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED BEFORE WE HAD TO BE IN THE NEWS, BEFORE IT WAS SENT TO MEDIATION. IT NEEDS TO BE HANDLED DIFFERENTLY IN THE FUTURE. ALSO, I FEEL IT IS ETHICALLY NECESSARY TO TELL CERTAIN AUDIENCE MEMBERS TO COME UP AND MAKE NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT TEACHERS, NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT UNIONS. IF YOU CANNOT SAY SOMETHING THAT IS POSITIVE THAT WILL HELP BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, MAYBE YOU NEED TO LOOK INSIDE YOURSELF BEFORE YOU SPEAK. SUZANNE?
>> YEAH, SORRY IT IS SHOWING A DELAY. IT ALSO SHOWS THAT I AM MUTED SO I COULD NOT TELL IF ANYONE COULD HEAR ME. GOOD MORNING. I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE MY SUPPORT OF THE HARD WORK OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND ADMINISTRATION TEAM. ALSO REGARDING OUR TEACHERS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS AS WELL. MY BIGGEST COMMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AS A BOARD OF TRUSTEES REALLY LOOK AT THE PROCESS OF HOW WE GOT HERE TODAY. AND, AS A DISTRICT, WE DO BETTER AT STARTING IN JANUARY IN PREPARING FOR COMING TO THE - - SO WE ARE UPDATED MORE EFFICIENTLY ABOUT WHAT IS BEING - - SO IT IS NOT JUST SOMETHING WE ARE FINDING OUT AFTER THE FACT. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE FULL FAITH AND TRUST IN OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS AS WELL. I WOULD REQUEST, GOING FORWARD, WE HAVE ON RECORD THAT WE ARE SPECIFICALLY GOING TO DO BETTER ON OUR COMMUNICATION GOING FORWARD IN THIS PROCESS. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S INPUT
TODAY. THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE?
>> I WANT TO SHARE, PREVIOUSLY, LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE IN THIS PROCESS, I MADE THE SUGGESTION THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTATION OF BOTH SIDES TO THE BARGAINING PROCESS. IT WAS AGREED UPON WITH THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND OUR LEADERSHIP WE WOULD DO THAT GOING FORWARD. THAT PROMISE IS NOT A FIELD AND I WOULD LIKE TO CARRY ON GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS IN THE NEXT BARGAINING
>> GREAT SUGGESTION. >> ANYONE ELSE? I WILL NOW CLOSE THE QUESTIONS. ROLL CALL, THAT IS RIGHT. I WILL NOW CALL THE QUESTION AND I WILL START WITH SUZANNE THOMAS.
[00:15:01]
>> A RELUCTANT YES. >> BEN ORR.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I ADDRESS YOU THIS MORNING WITH A MIX OF LINGERING CONCERNS, SINCERE APPRECIATION AND TEACHERS FACE EACH DAY. EVEN IN ONE OF THE STRONGEST ENVIRONMENTS IN THE STATE WITH EXCEPTIONAL FACILITIES, RESOURCE, PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND STUDENT BEHAVIOR, TEACHING IS VERY DIFFERENT. THIS REALITY IS NOT LOST ON ME AND MY EDUCATORS HAVE MY RESPECT AND SUPPORT. I AM GRATEFUL AFTER THOUGHTFUL - - ONE THAT REFLECTS MEANINGFUL PROCESS AMONG DIFFICULT FINANCIAL REALITIES. I CANNOT OVERLOOK HOW CERTAIN AGENDA DRIVEN VOICES HAVE ENFORCED THE NARRATIVE AROUND THIS PROCESS.
UNFAIR LABOR CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED BUT NOTABLY, NONE HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED DURING THESE RECENT NEGOTIATION EVEN AMONG SCINTILLATING RUMORS OF WRONGDOING AND DISRESPECT. HAD SUCH CONCERNS HELP SUBSTANTIAL WEIGHT ONE WOULD THINK THAT STEPS WOULD'VE TAKEN - - TO APPROVE AN INITIAL TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH A WEEK STILL AVAILABLE FOR NEGOTIATION ONLY THEN TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE ITS REJECTION. THIS APPROACH SEEMED DESIGNED FOR GENERATING SENSATIONAL HISTORIC REJECTION HEADLINES, EFFECTIVELY PASSING THE GOOD FAITH TARGETING OUR TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY DESERVE. AN 86% REJECTION RATE WAS WIDELY PUBLICIZED WITHOUT CONTEXT OR PARTICIPATION DETAILS WELL STRENGTHS - - WHILE STRENGTHS WERE IGNORED. SELECTIVE EMPHASIS ON PERCEIVED SHORTCOMINGS COMPARED TO NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS WHILE ADMITTING THE MANY AREAS WHERE HSE LEADS FOSTER DIVISION RATHER THAN UNITY. UNSUBSTANTIATED HINTS THAT BOARD MEMBERS ADMINISTRATORS DISRESPECT TEACHERS, CLAIMS WOODED IN HEARSAY FURTHER STRAINED OUR COMMUNITY. THE ABSENCE OF FURTHER FILINGS IS NOTEWORTHY.
EXTERNAL PARTS AND ALLIES AND THE PATHETIC SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALS WERE DRAWN INTO AMPLIFIED CONFLICT. NOW, AS APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT APPEARS IMMINENT THIS MORNING, A TELLING SILENCE HAS SETTLED IN. NO ONE FROM THESE CIRCLES HAS SHARED THE PERCENTAGE OF MEMBER APPROVAL IN THE FINAL RATIFICATION VOTE FOR THE CALL FOR A LARGE PUBLIC PRESENCE TODAY. CLEARLY THEY PREFER THIS CONCLUSION TO PASS QUIETLY.
BETTER, IT SEEMS, TO AVOID DRAWING ATTENTION TO A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE A SHARED PROCESS. MY CONCERN REMAINS FOCUSED ON THESE TACTICS AND NOT ON OUR TEACHERS HOOTS DAILY EFFORTS I ADMIRE FOR OUR PARENTS WHO SHARE OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. EVEN IN A DISTRICT THAT LEADS IN SO MANY AREAS, OUR EDUCATORS DESERVE AN ENVIRONMENT BASED ON TRANSPARENCY AND GOOD FAITH, NOT SELECTIVE NARRATIVE. I WILL CAST MY VOTE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL. I DO SO NOT BECAUSE I AGREE OF EVERY ASPECT BUT, BECAUSE I BELIEVE REJECTION WOULD ULTIMATELY HARM THE TEACHERS I WISH TO SUPPORT. UNDER STATE LAW, REJECTION WOULD TRIGGER THIRD-PARTY FACT-FINDING, PROHIBITING ACCESS TO CASH RESERVES RESULTING IN A LESSER OUTCOME FOR OUR TEACHERS. THE AGREEMENT CURRENTLY INCLUDES RESPONSIBLE USE OF RESERVES. DESPITE ALL OF THIS, AS I LOOKED TOWARD MY FINAL YEAR ON THIS BOARD, I REMAIN HOPEFUL. I AM APPRECIATED OF THE PROGRESS THIS REPRESENTS. WITH A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO OPEN COLLABORATION, OVER CALCULATED DIVISION IN THE PRESENCE OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED LEADERS, WE CAN CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN RETURN TO AN APOLITICAL FOUNDATION THAT MADE HSE EXCEPTIONAL FOR DECADES. IT IS TIME TO MOVE TOGETHER IN GOOD FAITH TO OUR COMMUNITY, EDUCATORS AND CHILDREN DESERVE NOTHING LESS. I VOTE YES TO
APPROVE THE CONTRACT. >> LATRICA SCHOOLEY?
>> YES. >> I AM A YES PASSES 7-0. THANK YOU.
[00:20:14]
>> HELLO? >> MEETING
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.