Capistrano Unified School District Board of Education Made a Right Decision

Few days ago, I had no ideas regarding to labor negotiations between Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Education and Capistrano Unified Teacher Association (CUEA). I love and respect the teachers. My best friends are teachers. The Board of Trustees are our representatives. We, the taxpayers, bear the cost of education.

Source: Where the Typical Orange County Property Tax Dollar Goes - Orange County California

I started learning more about it at CUSD web site and around the internet when Teachers Union prepared to strike. It was not good when they notified the School District 24 hours instead of 48 hours. I am not happy when students cannot going to school because teachers on strike. I am agree with the CUSD Board of Education not increase the class size by four students. Increase the class size means more works for the teacher, less attention to each of student and some good energetic teachers with less seniority will got layoff. I had sympathy with the Board of Trustee last year when they cut 10% salary of the administrative to save about 50 teaching jobs.

According to Orange County Register (http://www.ocregister.com/articles/board-235910-recall-union.html):

The trustees elected in 2008 have been in office a little over one year of a four-year term, a period of tough economic times. The board cut administration and staff salaries by about 10 percent to balance a prior budget. Now, the board faces $25 million in budget cuts for the next budget cycle. To do that the board is calling on teachers to take a 10 percent pay cut, which may help explain why the union backs the current recall. The union prefers a nearly 8 percent salary cut combined with furlough days and modified benefits.

I'm plan to vote out all incumbents from federal to local in this year election to elect new faces but will make exception for the current Trustees of CUSD if they carry out the Resolution 0910-60 on 03/31/2010. To the CUSD Board of Trustee: Please DO NOT reduce the class size and NO MORE TAX increase.

When the students at public schools stay home due to teachers on the picket line, the students at private schools going to their school to learn. Time for education vouchers and more charter schools.

Reference:
Capistrano Unified School District:  Negotiations
Capistrano Unified School District:  Fact Check - 2/25/10 - Rumor and Reality
Orange County Register: Strike update here
Orange County Register: Capo strike Q & A: What parents should know
Orange County Register: O.C. school districts targeting $164 million in cuts
Mission Viejo Dispatch: Keep The Board & Dump The Union
Beyond the Blackboard blog