June 8 Parentletter

June 8,2006 Dear Berryessa School Community; Your Berryessa teachers have now been working for 175 days without a contract. Berryessa’s California Teachers Association (CTAB) has been negotiating with the Berryessa School District, but, as you know, we have come to an impasse because the District has refused to make teachers a priority. On May 29, 2007, you received a letter from the School Board. While we agree with the Board that they have no control over the revenue Berryessa receives from the State, CTAB strongly disagrees with the assertion that Berryessa Union School District (BUSD) cannot increase teacher salaries beyond 5 %. Here are the real facts: • The State allocated a Cost-of-Living Adjustment of 8.73% (not 5.92%) to BUSD. •

Alum Rock, Cambrian, Campbell, Cupertino, Evergreen, Franklin McKinley, Los Gatos, Moreland, Mt. Pleasant, Oak Grove, and Sunnyvale have ALL given their teachers more than the 5% offered by Berryessa.

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All the above districts have expense increases too don’t they? Why is BUSD the only one that CLAIMS they can’t pay more to their teachers?

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Why does Superintendent Liebman CLAIM that programs and services to students must be cut next year because he states BUSD cannot afford them?

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Why has Superintendent Liebman’s salary increased by 30% in the two and half years since he has come to Berryessa? He was hired in around $150,000. Now he makes $194.018.00.

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CTAB knows that there is NO reason the BUSD cannot meet its financial needs.

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CTAB does not accept the assertion that cuts are necessary to student services, such as reduced library hours, a reduction in counselors, and reduction in the music department hours.

Berryessa teachers are committed to your families and will continue working hard on behalf of their students. Now we need your support. Please come to the School Board Meeting on Tuesday, June 12, 2007, and ask your school board some hard questions. There will be a rally at the BUSD offices on Piedmont Road at 6:30 pm, and the Board meeting will begin at 7:00 pm. Come support your children’s school and teachers. Thank you, Your California Teachers Association of Berryessa