Fresno Teachers Unveil Remedies to Free Up Funding for School Programs, Raises for Frustrated Educators
FTA Rep. Council Votes 'No Confidence' in Superintendent Wood
Fresno Teachers Association/CTA/NEA
5334 North Fresno St.
Fresno, CA 93710
www.fresno.com/fta
(559) 224-8430
Contact by cell phone: FTA President Larry Moore at (559) 313-4378 or Mike Myslinski at (650) 552-5324.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2002
FRESNO - Announcing that its policy-making council unanimously voted "no confidence" in school district Superintendent Santiago Wood, the Fresno Teachers Association this morning outlined at a news conference how the district can free up millions of dollars for student programs and educators' raises.
"Instead of making budget cuts that hurt teachers and students, the district should be making cuts that are as far away from the classroom as possible," said Larry Moore, president of the 4,400-member FTA, a chapter of the California Teachers Association. "This school board and Superintendent Wood refuse to budget for salary increases that the district can clearly afford. Zero raises equals zero respect for teachers."
Moore revealed today that the 210-member FTA Representative Council - the union's policy-making body - unanimously voted "no confidence" in Fresno Unified School District Superintendent Wood Monday night. He said teachers will speak out about their strong dissatisfaction with Wood and salary negotiations at the school board meeting Wednesday night.
Fresno teachers are angry because they are facing the reality of no raises for two years in a row. The district received state funding for a 3.98 percent cost of living adjustment for teachers for the 2001-2002 school year, but is refusing to honor its agreement to provide that raise. Now, the district is claiming it can't afford raises for the 2002-2003 school year as well.
Moore said an FTA analysis of the district budget shows that adjustments in just two areas would provide millions for raises and the protection of student programs. He said millions would be freed up by returning all temporarily assigned district personnel back to the classroom, and by changing the district's accounting practices concerning routine maintenance.
The FTA is a chapter of the 330,000-member California Teachers Association, which is affiliated with the 2.6 million-member National Education Association.