San Andreas, CA…An update regarding negotiations between Calaveras Unified School District and Calaveras Unified Educators Association (CUEA). Posted on the CUSD website at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8dxpNiYFqDlSDF2VDFfeTBRS2s/view is a copy of the official Fact Finding Report, including the formal dissent issued as part of the official report, that was a result of the formal Fact Finding process that Calaveras Unified School District engaged in with the Calaveras Unified Educators Association (CUEA), as part of the contract negotiation process.

As stated by Mr. Ron Bennett, CEO of School Services of California (the pre-eminent organization in the analysis of school finance in the state of California), who served on the Fact Finding Panel and who authored the dissent as part of the Fact Finding Report,

“I must dissent with this report in its entirety. It is not based upon factual evidence and it fails to consider the interests of the public”

“In fact, if the district were to implement these flawed recommendations it would need to dismantle academic programs, lay off staff and perhaps even close neighborhood schools”

“If the district were to accept the Chair’s recommendations, it would, by its own hand, immediately become “Negative” in its financial condition and a ward of the state. The District should, therefore, completely reject all of the recommendations of the Chair”

“…my dissent is based on the principle that this fact finding report contains no findings based upon the facts. It represents a giveaway to adults at the expense of programs for kids. “

Official statements from Superintendent Mark Campbell

“Our objective remains the same— to continue to seek a resolution to all issues being negotiated and keep the lines of dialogue open as part of this process”

“The fact-based conclusions articulated in the dissent from Mr. Bennett clearly illustrate the reality of our current and projected financial conditions and are what will guide our decision making process”

“I can’t recommend any decisions to increase expenditures that would jeopardize the ongoing efforts to create sustainable fiscal stability for CUSD”

“I can’t justify increasing compensation for staff while looking at making already necessary cuts and reductions to staff and programs”

“It is important to note that the report from the panel chairperson recommends that we provide increases to salaries and benefits for staff, but does not provide the data to illustrate how exactly we can afford to do so”

“It is not in the district’s best interests to make decisions to increase our budget deficit and create the possible reality of CUSD not having an approved budget that could lead to the state intervening and assuming control over our district…that would be highly irresponsible”

“We ask that all CUSD stakeholders read the report from the Chairperson of the Fact Finding Panel, read the dissent from Mr. Bennett (panel member) and draw their conclusions after considering both perspectives”