Oroville Secondary Teachers Association

CTA meeting with PTU (Parents and Teachers United) - ask a member about time and location

Board Election - November 7th...Get out the vote

Vote for Ed Hottell and Steve Rocchi as school board members.

Signup for CTA calling bank in Chico (Chico faculty)

Signup for Oroville door-to-door (Oroville faculty)

Gossip/News

The District continues on its course of non-compliance in using IBB as a format for negotiating. They propose this would lead to a better atmosphere and yet they continue to "hide" funding priorities. Fact: The ending "unrestricted" balance from 1999-2000 was in excess of $600,000 as indicated in the documentation sent to the State Department, July 2000. This type of shell game will only destroy what little credibility exists in the business department at 2211 Washington Ave.

Congratulations Negotiating Team!!!

The following letter was sent and printed in Letter to the Editor of the Oroville Mercury, October 6, 2000

Dear Editor:

This is in response to Judy Warren's letter of September 29, 2000, "Teachers Using Poor Tactics." She
has misinterpreted the facts.

The increase in teacher salaries for the past three years was 7.75% not 12.69%. OUHSD classified staff
and administration received a total of 8.92% increase in salaries. Even with the 1996-97 raise added to
the 7.75%, OUHSD teachers raises are less than those given to teachers in the Oroville Elementary
School, Palermo School, and Thermalito School districts.

Dr. Kayrell received a 5% salary adjustment to his 98-99 salary for the 1999-2000 school year. Most
people call this a raise.

Teachers have frequently been told they aren't a priority in the district's budget process. Teachers have
been asked to justify why they should be given a raise, even though the state provides a Cost of Living
Adjustment.

There have been continual negotiation conflicts during Kayrell's term as superintendent. He has rarely
displayed any leadership qualities, yet the school board seems satisfied with his performance: They
granted him another year on his contract (to 2004).

Kayrell was given a nearly 100% VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE as principal of Las Plumas High
School by the faculty. After serving as principal at Prospect High School, the OUHSD board selected
him as Director of Curriculum. In this position, he was given a nearly 100% VOTE OF NO
CONFIDENCE by all teachers of the Oroville Secondary Teachers Association. Later, the school board
selected him to replace Superintendent Rossi.

Prior to Kayrell's term as superintendent, OSTA always negotiated in the spring for the upcoming
school year contract, and ratified the contract in the fall of that contractual year. Since Kayrell's
leadership, the earliest contract settlement has taken place in the summer after that contractual year.

Contract negotiations are intended to provide a method of improving working conditions, and salary is
only one part of the contract. The district's offer did not address any of the other issues on the table.

The 1999-2000 Unaudited Actuals Report showed an increase of approximately $600,000 in the ending
balance over the Estimated Actuals Report three months earlier. Through the mediator we asked the
district: "If we find money that can be applied to salaries, would the district do so?" The district's reply
was, "No."

Warren stated "the OSTA negotiating team blew a guaranteed 9% raise based on an offer of a full
1999-2000 COLA, including the deficit reduction, less the increase in CVT medical package." The full
COLA for 1999-2000 was only 3.41% to begin with.

Warren also stated, "It appears...the teachers' bargaining team blew it...and now are trying to save face by
demeaning the district." A gag order prevented OSTA from communicating with its members.

However this did not keep the district from leaking information during the summer months. Nor did it
keep them from discussing mediation openly in a public school board meeting. They also discussed
mediation issues while other administrators were present on September 12, 2000.

Ms. Warren, these are facts you didn't include in your research.

1999-2000 OSTA Negotiating Team

Other Important Links:

CalPERS Long-Term Care
Search California Ed Code