Charter Oak Faces Furlough Days

With California Governor Jerry Brown set to release his revised state budget on Monday, is proactively bracing for bad news.

With an expected revenue loss of between $349, and with some talks suggesting cuts ranging up to $1200 per student next school year, on Tuesday the district met with representatives of the Charter Oak Educators Association to come to an early agreement about how to weather the coming storm. Their conclusions paint a grim portrait of the district’s financial situation, including furlough days and restricted benefits for teachers.

“There have been several concessions by the Educators Association,” explained district Superintendent Mike Hendricks. “We’re working together to help resolve the anticipated budget shortfall.”

In an effort to save teacher positions from layoffs, the association made several concessions. The largest concession by educators is the addition of six furlough days during the school year, translating to an average 3.42 percent reduction in salary. They are also giving up “family illness” days.

Additionally, expected pay raises due to seniority level are being suspended, likely making it more difficult for the district to attract new teachers. Although there is restoration language in the agreement for such a time when the budget situation becomes more favorable, for now it seems inevitable that teachers will bear the brunt of loss of funding.

But despite the desperate situation and acrimonious national mood towards government spending, Hendricks praises the ability of teachers and administrators to work together to head off such an issue. However, he also stresses that education has shared enough of the budget deficit weight, already.

“We’re really fortunate in Charter Oak, we have a great history of working together for the good of the district,” said Hendricks. “Every employee in the district has done their fair share in solving these problems.”

On Friday, rallies were held throughout the district—and throughout the state—raising awareness about the budget situation and protesting educational cuts. Extending current sales, vehicle, and income taxes would avoid these cuts, but opposition in Sacramento makes that an unlikely scenario, despite the fact that the California education budget has been cut by about $20 billion over the past three years.

Still, Charter Oak educators strive to keep the effects of budget cuts away from the classroom, although it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so.

“It takes everyone working together,” Willow Elementary principal Brian Shaw said.  “(The district) has tried to keep the budget far away from the classroom.”