School District, Teachers to Resume Contract Negotiations

Local teachers will resume contract negotiations with the Fremont Unified School District next week, according to media reports.

The teachers declared an impasse two weeks ago after spending a year haggling over employment contracts.

Talks will begin Tuesday under the supervision of Seymour Kramer, a state mediator who has assisted with similar matters in other Bay Area districts, the Fremont Argus reports.

Superintendent James Morris told the Argus that he is “hopeful” a resolution will be reached with the help of the mediator.

According to the Argus, there are 1,600 teachers employed in the district who teach about 33,000 students at 41 schools. Their contracts expired in June 2012.

The impasse was declared March 5 after the district failed to agree on smaller class sizes and increases in benefits and salaries for teachers, the Argus reports.

Teachers say they’ve endured cuts in pay and benefits and increased class sizes for the last five years.

“It’s time to treat your employees with the same respect and dedication that we have showed you,” Fremont Unified School District Teachers Association President Brannin Dorsey told the Argus.

Teachers are also crying foul on the district, pointing out that it holds close to $26 million in reserves. While each school district is required to set 2 percent of its budget aside for reserves, Fremont’s reserves account for more than 10 percent of its budget, the Argus reports.

District representatives, however, say they must remain frugal in spending and anticipate an annual $6 million spending deficit through 2015.

Read the full Argus report here.