Release Time President--VUSD Board Presentation Sepember 2005

Our ANTI friends are trying to make a mountain where a molehill does not even exist. See the the public document copied below that explains the history of release time presidents in VUSD.



BOARD PRESENTATION FOR SEPTEMBER 8, 2005
EMPLOYEE RELEASE TIME


Two certificated positions are full-time release positions from teaching responsibilities:

1. VTA President – VTA Contract, Article 9.10, allows for up to a 100% release of the VTA President. The cost of this release time will be borne by the VTA based on Class C, Step 4 ($41,562) of the Teacher’s Salary Schedule.

The history of this contract language is as follows:

1995- Present – VTA President has up to 100% of contract released. VTA reimburses District at Class C, Step 4.

1990-1993 – VTA President released 50% to 100% of his/her contract. District is reimbursed at Class D, Step 7.

1988-1990 – VTA President released up to 50% of a contract. Released time is paid by VTA at Class D, Step 7 of the Teacher’s Salary Schedule.

1985 – 1988 – VTA President granted up to fifteen (15) days of release. Substitute costs by paid by VTA.

In March 2003, a legal opinion was provided to the Vista Unified School District regarding the legality of this full release. An informal audit was performed reviewing the activities of the VTA President in 2003. The President’s activities fell within the legal limits of allowable activities. These allowable activities include processing grievances, any negotiations activities, and District business as related to VTA. Unallowed activities or “internal union business” are activities such as attendance at State CTA, involvement with other school District job actions, and any activities that are not connected to the bargaining contract negotiations or VUSD business. The District is currently in the process of conducting an audit of the VTA President’s release time to insure the District falls within the legal guidelines.

The District receives reimbursement from VTA equal to C4 on the salary schedule. This is approximately 60% of the VTA President’s salary. Based on this, the VTA President would legally be allowed to do 60% of internal union business. The District paid approximately $35,00 (salary + benefits) for the full time release of the VTA President in the 2004/05 school year.

2. CTA Elected Board Member – Tom Conry is on full release at a Board Member of the California Teacher’s Association. California Education Code 44987 entitles the elected Board Member to release time from his/her teaching position. The current proposed agreement provides for full reimbursement to VUSD from CTA for the employee’s salary, benefits and all associated costs. There is no financial cost to VUSD for the full release of the CTA Board member, Tom Conry. VUSD does not have the option to deny this full release due to Ed Code 44987.

3. Negotiated release from the VTA and VUSD contract authorizes the VTA President to grant up to 75 days of release time. Substitute cost is covered by the VTA.