What's up with that calendar?

Many members have noticed that the District has posted a "draft" calendar on the MUSD website.  This is the calendar that has been proposed for resolution by the MTA.  We were told that our families were anxious to have a general sense of start, vacation, and end dates.  Regardless of the final adopted calendar, these dates as shown on the "draft" should see only minor changes, if any.  Thus, the District's decision to post the "draft" met with no objection from your Team.


As stated in a previous post, your Team has resisted bringing the calendar forward for a vote until we were able to obtain some assurances regarding the potential changes to our contract article 11 (Hours) resulting from adoption of this "draft".  We are very close to those assurances.  It should be noted that the "draft" indicates a shorter student day on Wednesday as opposed to our current reduced Friday.  This proposal also shows that day reduced to a true minimum day.  Your team has been working to ensure that the intent of this additional time is to serve the needs of our students and that the value of our voices in decisions about the use of this time be recognized. 

Some have asked why your Team has even considered such a change to the early release day.  Frankly, it is because we were asked to consider it.  Rather than give an outright rejection, we insisted that members be offered the opportunity to voice their opinions.  This was accomplished via a survey in December.  The results of the survey revealed a virtual 50/50 response to the prospect of changing the early release day.  While insisting that the survey was not an indicator of assent, we did agree to bring this calendar before the membership for a ratification vote.  We expect that vote to be soon.  Make your opinions known via the ballot.

We also met on Tuesday, April 7 for bargaining discussions.  Much of this time was spent negotiating the concerns addressed above.  No progress was made on compensation but the MTA's proposal remains on the table.  We continue to consider this a fair and responsible offer and intend to bargain accordingly.  We meet again on April 22.  On behalf of your Team, I thank your for you patience and support.

Mike Williams
Negotiations Chair