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F l a sh p o i n t s
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NEGOTIATIONS
A Publication of the Pittsburg Education Association
159 E. 4th Street, Pittsburg, CA 94565 (925) 432-0199, info@peateachers.org

September 29, 2017

Dear PEA Members,

Your PEA Bargaining Team, Mark Maselli, Chris Coan, Jeff Greco, Andrea McKinney-
Webster, and Melonie Sauceda-Flemming, met with the District on Friday, September
29, 2017 with the hope of reaching an agreement on special education class sizes. In
order to get an agreement for our previous bargaining cycle both sides agreed to meet at
the beginning of this year on special education class sizes. Currently, Pittsburg is one of
the few districts in the area that has NO language governing class size limits for special
education.

The District came initially asking to put off class size discussions for another year,
citing their desire to work on issues the district has with the department of education,
including multiple lawsuits against the district for special education issues. Your
bargaining team told the district that this was unacceptable; and told the district that
they needed to come to the table today and bargain in good faith, honoring our
agreement and our contracted intentions from the previous years contract agreement.

For the purpose of improving the special education program; the district, recently had an
outside company (Stetson Group) do an audit of the program. The report was quite
thorough and pointed out areas of concern. The District was told to use data regarding
student needs to determine staffing. Our proposal clearly does this. It delineates class
sizes in direct relationship to the level of the students special needs. The District
proposal desires the ability to determine staffing generically. Their proposal approaches
the special education classroom as if it was a general education classroom, with NO
consideration for the childs level of function. Their proposal just says we will just
lump all the students together.

PEA Bargaining Team:

Mark Maselli, Chair Hillview JHS, Jeff Greco Rancho Medanos JHS, Andrea McKinney-Webster Black Diamond HS, Chris Coan
Willow Cove Elementry, Melonie Sauceda-Flemming Hillview /MLK Jr. JHS, and Rosemary Louissaint CTA Staff
How can they take this approach after spending money on an audit? Was their intent
really to make an outward effort to appease the state, community and the parents of our
students; with no real intention, as they demonstrated to us in this last bargaining
session? You would think that the legal issues with special education would be
motivating the district to do the right thing. It seems to have not. It appears they are not
concerned with history repeating itself and having more problems in the future.

Is the districts lack of sincerity a reflection of what is ahead of us?

We will keep you informed about bargaining as it is actually happening. In the

meantime look for the next organizing event. Please make sure that PEA has all current
contact information including your email address. Please give any new email addresses
to your site rep. We will soon send out actual proposals via personal emails so that this
is an open bargain and you are kept informed completely.

Finally, we are all PEA! We will bargain many issues this year that affect each one. We
need additional members for the organizing team. Looking for at least one additional
per site and two at the Pittsburg high school. Please let your site rep know if you are
interested and willing to strengthen our organizing efforts!

Your PEA Bargaining Team

PEA Bargaining Team:

Mark Maselli, Chair Hillview JHS, Jeff Greco Rancho Medanos JHS, Andrea McKinney-Webster Black Diamond HS, Chris Coan
Willow Cove Elementry, Melonie Sauceda-Flemming Hillview /MLK Jr. JHS, and Rosemary Louissaint CTA Staff