MEMO TO WELLINGTON PARENTS
An ongoing dispute between the Wellington Teachers Union and Schools Superintendent Victor Cardenzana heated up last Sunday when Union members collected over 100 signatures for a “No Confidence” vote against the Superintendent. Union officials say that the Superintendent has misappropriated funds and has been intimidating some veteran Teachers. Superintendent Cardenzana has lodged his own complaints against the Union saying that they are slowing the negotiation process by not properly communicating with their members and that some of the highest paid Teachers earn nearly $50.00 an hour.The dispute became personal and hit home to many parents when a letter was sent home from Laura Gallatin, an Elementary School Teacher explaining how she will no longer be able to stay past 3:30 to assist students. TMC NEWS obtained a copy of that letter and will share it with you in its entirety.
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Dear Parents,
In the interest of keeping you informed on the current situation and maintaining an open line of communication that is rumor free, I wanted to explain the “Work to Rule” concept.
In the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Wellington Board of Education and the Wellington Education Association my schedule day is from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. As you are aware, my day usually extends well beyond those hours. However, since it appears that the Wellington School Board does not value us as professionals, as evidenced by their refusal to bargain a fair and equitable contract, we have established, as an association, a Work to Rule policy.
The education of your child is my top priority and I will be in my classroom from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. fulfilling my commitment to that very important task. Any and all work that cannot be finished in that time period will be tended to the following day, during those hours.
By contacting the members of the Board of Education and voicing your concerns, perhaps you could help us put an end to this unfortunate and unnecessary mess. All we want is a fair and equitable contract.
Respectfully,
Laura Gallatin
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Gallatin included the names and phone numbers of all Board members.
Dear Parents,
In the interest of keeping you informed on the current situation and maintaining an open line of communication that is rumor free, I wanted to explain the “Work to Rule” concept.
In the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Wellington Board of Education and the Wellington Education Association my schedule day is from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. As you are aware, my day usually extends well beyond those hours. However, since it appears that the Wellington School Board does not value us as professionals, as evidenced by their refusal to bargain a fair and equitable contract, we have established, as an association, a Work to Rule policy.
The education of your child is my top priority and I will be in my classroom from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. fulfilling my commitment to that very important task. Any and all work that cannot be finished in that time period will be tended to the following day, during those hours.
By contacting the members of the Board of Education and voicing your concerns, perhaps you could help us put an end to this unfortunate and unnecessary mess. All we want is a fair and equitable contract.
Respectfully,
Laura Gallatin
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Gallatin included the names and phone numbers of all Board members.
Parents we talked to at the Elementary School on Friday said they are saddened by the dispute and just wish it would end so everybody can just focus on teaching the children.
posted by TMC NEWS at 2:53 AM
2 Comments:
I have experienced being on a contract negotiation team before. I am surprised by the comments in the newspaper editorial from the Wellington Superintendent. He insists on comparing what teachers earn to his own salary. He ALREADY NEGOTIATED his salary and contract. This has nothing to do with what he earns. I believe he is trying to cause a furor among citizens who do not have college educations and earn less than the teaching professionals in the Wellington district. This strikes me as unproductive as well as unprofessional. I hope the Board of Education considers his inability to develop effective relationships and establish effective leadership with the workforce in the district.
I found it amusing that on the Chronicle's website, a taped interview was done with school board memeber Ayers Ratliff. He went on to say how much he was in support of the teachers and support staff. How the superintendent was not treating them fairly. What I found amusing was the fact Mr. Ratliff never said how he voted to hire Mr. Cardenzena....and oh yea...his wife is also a teacher in the district.
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