CAT Tracks for October 4, 2011

CAT Tracks for October 4, 2011

One down...

??? to go!

I guess if we are going to "keep score", we should actually say that tonight's meeting was #2. The BOE-CAT teams did meet on July 26th and discussed "Ground Rules" for negotiations.

In fact, that's where we took up tonight. The BOE team presented a modified set of rules that took CAT's objections of July 26th into consideration.

When the CAT team stated that it needed a short caucus (at 6:05) to consider the modified ground rules, the BOE decided to leave a copy of their "Initial Bargaining Proposal" for our consideration during caucus. (We were warned by the BOE's attorney..."It took me an hour to read it.")

The CAT Bargaining Team took 20 minutes to give a cursory read, deciding that our best approach to the proposal would be to ask for the BOE's rationale for their various take backs, modifications, and proposed new language.

We resumed "negotiations" at 6:25 p.m.

Things started off in testy fashion...a direct result of the 3-month lull. CAT expressed it displeasure at the delay; the BOE didn't appreciate CAT's characterization that it was their fault.

Both sides finally agreed to disagree and moved on...

First up, the aforementioned "Ground Rules". The parties decided to sign off on the modified version with the disclaimer that CAT was at liberty to submit counter-proposals to anything that the BOE had opened up. The BOE agreed to that qualification.

And that's where the "inside story" shall end.

As I've said before, negotiations are best conducted in closed session. There is enough "natural tension" without some rabid reporter editorializing to heighten emotion!

However, here are some basic fact:

CAT's "Initial Bargaining Proposal" (submitted to the BOE on July 7th) was basically a half of one page...large print.)

The BOE's "Initial Bargaining Proposal" (submitted to CAT tonight) was fourteen (14) pages...regular print. (There was a 15th page, that echoed in much greater detail, CAT's acknowledgment that "The Education Reform Act and Performance Evaluation Reform Act have made certain changes to Illinois law that will require the Board and the Association to discuss vacancies/transfers, teacher evaluations, and reduction in force/recall, among other issues." Yes, a whole other can of worms!)

The two teams will next meet this coming Thursday, October 6th, at 5:30 p.m. (Closed Session)

The two teams will then meet next week on Thursday, October 13th, at 5:30 p.m. (Closed Session)

Any major developments will be reported as they occur...
At least, the long-awaited bargaining process has begun.

RUDENESS ALERT:
As one who is hearing impaired and who has commented on the tendency of District officials to whisper and mumble at public meetings, I found occasion to empathize tonight.
As the BOE team prepared to leave the room, an unsuspecting member of the CAT team (not I) commented that he did not hear a departing comment....explaining that he was hard of hearing. Interim Superintendent Swopes took the occasion to literally yell at the member, rather than simply repeat what he had mumbled in an audible fashion.
Of course, this was during the early, testy, part of the meeting...but still.
It was embarrassing and uncalled for

Fortunately, the second hour of the session was "professional" and the parties ended on a cordial note. Hopefully, that will be the tone of the upcoming meetings.

Stay tuned...