Fact Finding

Happy New Year! Hopefully this year will bring some good tidings and peace to us all. One piece of good news came over the break: the state did NOT cut education enough to take additional furloughs this school year (2011-2012). Most of you have heard that the contract ratification was passed by the membership and the School Board also ratified it. So how did it all go down at fact-finding? Here is a short synopsis of the very long day:

The District, ACE, and fact-finding panel met in one room starting around 9 am. In attendance for ACE were the President, bargaining team, and 2 CTA representatives. The District had the Superintendent, all Assistant Superintendents, their bargaining team, and a few other District personnel. The panel consisted of a member chosen by the District, a member chosen by ACE, and a state appointed member. The District presented their case to the panel. There was a short break and then ACE asked a few clarifying questions. Then ACE presented to the panel. There was a short break and then the District asked a clarifying question. The rest of the day, ACE was in one room, the District in another, and the panel in a third room. The panel member chosen by ACE would come into our room and present information, then go back to the panel room with any answers or further questions. The District’s panel member did the same with their team. Lunch and dinner were brought in as we could not leave.

It was very early on that we realized that if a deal was to be had, there needed to be another year (2012-2013) included in it. Many unofficial proposals were given (none written down) from the room to the panel member to the other panel member to the other room. A deal finally began to take shape late in the evening and it came together just before midnight.

Even though the process was educational, it is my hope that none of us will have to repeat it again. Thank you again to everyone for your support.