BLOOMINGTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
December Newsletter
Message from the President
We are feeling the turmoil of a school district that has to make budget cuts. This turmoil is happening all over our state and nation. Public schools are no longer supported financially like they once were. Minnesota has been one of the states that has fought back to keep public education funded and available to all students. We have a tradition of communities supporting schools.
As many of you know, I have the opportunity to meet with other local presidents on a monthly basis. I hear about the budget cuts in other districts and the struggle to maintain a quality teaching staff. Bloomington has been able to push off many of the cuts other districts have made because we used the fund balance to do so. We no longer have that fund balance and we are faced with the tough decisions. Cuts have been made for years, but the classroom was always the first priority. Now, we must downsize and cut programs and people.
This is not our fault. The teachers and staff are not to blame for the situation we are in. All public schools have 90%+ of their financial resources going to people. Bloomington is not alone. Blaming the teachers/salaries of staff is not accurate. We did not "do this to ourselves" and you should not feel guilty about your salary. Our settlements have been in line with other metro districts. This year out of 121 school districts that have settled their contracts, approximately 60% have settled for 2% or more. The same goes for previous years.
Our district does not plan on stopping or delaying new initiatives and programs that cost extra money because they believe it gives us a competitive edge. Well, the same goes for salaries of teachers. If we do not receive raises similar to our neighbors, eventually our salary schedule is not competitive.
It is our responsibility to fight for public education. If we truly believe our students deserve a quality education, we need to fight for it at the ballot box, in the community and in our very own families. Public education has been under attack for many years and it is going to take all of us pushing back to change the public narrative.
Communication to the School Board
As I read the information coming out from our district regarding the recommended budget cuts, I struggle with how we get teacher voices to the board. The school board has asked to hear from us and that has been a welcomed invite. However, we want to make the most of this opportunity to get the information requested to our school board members in a helpful way. They are going to cut 3.5 million dollars---that part is not negotiable given our fund balance. My ask from building stewards and members is that we focus on feedback that talks about programming and the affects on our students. If we are going to cut, what would be the least impactful to our students moving forward? What are some ideas/suggestions/questions you have?
Currently, I am working with the media specialists to collect the data to share with the board regarding the media programs across the district. That information will go out to the school board Monday. The district has started an FAQ where staff can ask questions or put comments. This goes directly to the district and the communications department has been tasked with answering the questions. I can't guarantee the school board will see the questions you ask.
The district is adding study sessions, as needed, so keep checking the district website. The district has even opened up study sessions to public comment. This is not typical, but the board wants to make sure they hear from all stakeholders. If you want to speak, you sign up when you arrive. You get 2-3 minutes to speak. At school board meetings, there is time for public comment. School board meetings, not study sessions, are on local cable TV.
If you prefer to communicate through the union, we will be collecting information to pass on to the school board. Please send your ideas and suggestions to bloomingtonbft@gmail.com. If you would like to reach the president directly, please use bftpresident@gmail.com.
Process for Downsizing our Schools
- 12/16 Study Session: Budget Cuts, Public Comment and Discussion
- 1/6 Study Session: Budget Cuts, Public Comment and Discussion
- 1/13 Regular Meeting: Budget Cuts, Public Comment and Budget Cuts Decision
The plan is to have the School Board deliver a decision on budget cuts during the January 13, 2020 meeting.
Next Steps:
- Human Resources and the BFT will meet to discuss a timeline on staffing.
- Retiring staff or those requesting a leave of absence will inform Human Resources no later than mid-February.
- Principals hand in their staffing worksheets in late February.
- Probationary staff that will be cut should know before Spring break.
- The district will meet with staff that need to bump into other positions.
- Because of bumping, there will likely be a few rounds of postings until May.
- The union will be involved to support individuals in the process.
This will be a long process, so not all decisions will be made by Spring break when it comes to tenured teachers. Much of it depends on the school board and what areas they will cut.
Seniority List .... Take Two
Section 11 of our contract outlines how unrequested leave works. Please refer to the contract below or on the BFT website.
A general FAQ is posted below the list to help you better understand the seniority list.