LTUSD contract negotiations

unedited 4/09 tahoe mt. news

By Kathryn Reed

Contract talks between Lake Tahoe Unified and its teachers and support staff are more amicable than years past.
With the state budget still not settled, everyone has agreed to no increases in the compensation package – including paychecks and health benefits.
The district returned to California’s Value Trust, which used to be Central Valley Trust, after dumping Aetna as of Oct. 1. A spike in premiums led the district’s insurance committee to come up with this decision.
Lyn Twitchell, president of the local teachers union, said negotiations are moving forward and that a multi-year contract may be possible to obtain. The classified representative was not available for comment.
STEA and the district said a tentative agreement is imminent.
Everyone has their eyes on Sacramento and the $8 billion deficit. The May 19 special election has a number of initiatives designed to help bridge that cap.
“If the items don’t pass and the state makes further cuts, we are starting to get projections for what that might look like and it is not a pretty scene,” said Jim Watson, LTUSD human resources director.
All California districts could find themselves in a bind if the governor starts grabbing more money because March 15 was the deadline to notify teachers if they would be laid off. Watson said unless state law changes, the district could not let more people go.
Declining enrollment continues to plague the district, though the rate is slowing. The school year started with 4,116 students and as of late March 3,990 were enrolled.